St. Louis @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2012 ) San Diego 3, St. Louis 6

The St. Louis Cardinals avoided a sweep at home to protect their slim lead for the second National League wild-card slot, but now they hit the road for seven games beginning with a three-game series against the surging San Diego Padres on Monday. The Cardinals are 5 1/2 games behind wild-card leader Atlanta, so their path to the playoffs will likely hinge on their ability to fend off Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. A four-game set versus the Dodgers follows the Padres series.

San Diego has been one of the hottest teams in the majors, going 14-5 in its last 19 games after taking two of three from Arizona. The Padres, who are in the midst of a nine-game homestand, have won 18 of their last 24 at Petco Park. Chase Headley continued his spectacular second half of the season by clubbing a grand slam in Sunday's win to take over the National League lead with a career-high 102 RBIs.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (4-6, 4.16 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (5-2, 2.38)

Garcia has had trouble finding any consistency in his four starts since coming off the disabled list following a 2 1/2-month absence. He halted a four-game losing streak last time out, limiting the New York Mets to one run on 7 1/3 innings. That followed a pair of shaky starts - both on the road - in which he was knocked around for 10 runs on 16 hits in 11 1/3 innings. He held the Padres to two runs in seven innings in May.

Stults is riding a four-game winning streak and has allowed one run or fewer in five of his last six starts. He did not factor in the decision after holding the Los Angeles Dodgers to one run in six innings last time out. Stults is adept at keeping the ball in the park, surrendering only six homers - three in one game - in 14 appearances (10 starts) with San Diego. He has never faced St. Louis.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals are 19-10 against West Division teams.

2. Headley leads the majors with 19 homers and 60 RBIs since the All-Star break. He has 22 RBIs in his last 10 games.

3. Cardinals 3B David Freese sat out Sunday's game with a mild ankle sprain suffered in Saturday's contest.