Houston @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2012 ) St. Louis 14, Houston 2

Fighting to stay in the crowded National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Houston Astros on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. St. Louis is 3-3 on a nine-game homestand after a devastating 19-inning loss to the Pirates on Sunday in which the Cardinals went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Cardinals continue to lead the NL in runs scored, average and on-base percentage, but their bats seem to go silent at the worst possible time. Monday was a much-needed day off.

Houston will play its second game under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco, who replaced the fired Brad Mills. The Astros lost 8-1 to Arizona on Sunday, falling to 7-33 in their last 40 games. But Houston is 3-3 against the Cardinals this season. In contrast to the Cardinals, the Astros rank near the bottom of the majors in nearly every offensive category.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Houston, FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (10-8, 3.81 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (11-10, 3.87)

Harrell has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven consecutive starts, a span in which he has allowed one homer. Batters are hitting .253 against Harrell, who has won three of his last four decisions. In three career appearances against the Cardinals, Harrell is 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA.

Wainwright has won four straight decisions and has given up two or fewer earned runs in six straight starts. He is pitching like he did before his Tommy John surgery, with 142 strikeouts in 151 1/3 innings. Wainwright is an eye-popping 11-1 with a 1.73 ERA in 19 career appearances against Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. After a 13-4 stretch, the Cardinals have lost seven of their last 12.

2. St. Louis’ Matt Holliday and David Freese combined to go 0-for-15 in Sunday’s 6-3, 19-inning loss.

3. Astros 2B Jose Altuve is 9-for-21 with three doubles in his last five games.