St. Louis @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 4, St. Louis 7

The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers have both played themselves out of their divisional races. Now they’re getting close to falling out of the wild card chase. The Cardinals hold a one-game lead over Los Angeles for the second National League wild card, but Milwaukee and Philadelphia are closing fast. The Dodgers have turned their focus toward the wild card after losing six of their last seven games to fall seven games behind NL West-leading San Francisco. St. Louis has dropped 11 of its last 15 games, and their defense is a prime culprit. Since July 1, the Cardinals are 29th among 30 MLB teams in fielding percentage at .980.

St. Louis center fielder Carlos Beltran is expected to return Thursday after being rested in Wednesday’s loss to San Diego. Beltran is mired in a 3-for-26 slump with one extra-base hit in his last 61 at-bats, and he's batted just .209 since June 25 while reportedly dealing with injuries in his left knee and left hand. Of course, Beltran isn’t the only one struggling. Matt Holliday and David Freese have both slumped in recent weeks, with Freese batting .246 with 17 RBIs since Aug. 1. The Dodgers can certainly sympathize. They’re hitting .184 in their past four games, and Matt Kemp is just 4-for-32 in September. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has also cooled down, going 4-for-26 over his last seven games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), PRIME (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (14-7, 4.40 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Josh Beckett (1-2, 3.86)

Lynn was moved to the bullpen after going 0-1 with a 6.56 ERA in five August starts, but he’s getting the nod on Thursday in place of Jake Westbrook (oblique). Lynn made six relief appearances since being moved to the bullpen, going 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA. He gave up four runs in six frames in a start against the Dodgers on May 18.

Beckett has allowed eight runs in 18 2/3 innings in three starts with the Dodgers since being acquired from Boston on Aug. 25. He last faced the Cardinals in 2005 and owns a 2-2 record with a 5.11 ERA in six career starts against St. Louis. Beckett took the loss last Friday against San Francisco, giving up four runs over 6 1/3 innings at AT&T Park.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Dodgers RHP Ronald Belisario has not allowed an earned run (one unearned) in his last 12 appearances covering 13 1/3 innings since Aug. 17.

2. The Cardinals have lost eight of their last nine road games.

3. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (irregular heartbeat) said he hopes to return to return to action next Tuesday.