Houston @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2012 ) Houston 0, St. Louis 5
A three-game series with the woeful Houston Astros seems to have been just what the St. Louis Cardinals needed to get back on track. Manager Mike Matheny's club will look to secure a sweep of the majors' cellar dwellars on Thursday while strengthening its lead for the National League's second wild card. David Freese and Yadier Molina belted their 20th homers of the season on Wednesday as host St. Louis recorded its third straight victory with a 5-0 triumph.
The power surge was also one for the record books as Freese and Molina joined Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday and Allen Craig in the Cardinals' franchise-best five-member 20-homer club. The victory lifted St. Louis two games ahead of Los Angeles, which split a doubleheader with Washington on Wednesday. After belting out 24 runs while taking three of four from Philadelphia, Houston has posted just one run in two games versus St. Louis.
TV: 1:45 p.m. ET, FSH (Houston), FSMW (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (5-12, 4.93 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (4-7, 4.24)
Norris will vie for his first win since May 21 when he takes the mound on Thursday. The 27-year-old surrendered two homers en route to a five-run effort in 5 1/3 innings in his last outing against Cincinnati on Sept. 8. Norris, who is 7-4 in his career versus the Cardinals, recorded a quality start against them on Aug. 22.
Garcia has dropped all five decisions versus Houston - including a rough outing on June 5 when he yielded six runs on five hits in two innings in a 9-8 setback. The 26-year-old Mexican, who has dropped five of his last six decisions, pitched well in his last outing. Garcia yielded two runs on three hits in six innings of a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Saturday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Craig, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, is 5-for-11 with a homer and four RBIs in his career versus Norris.
2. Houston interviewed former Astros infielder - and current Red Sox bench coach - Tim Bogar on Wednesday. Bogar was the fifth known candidate to interview for the team's managerial position.
3. Jose Altuve was originally slated to have the day off, but the All-Star second baseman was reinserted into the lineup after Tyler Greene was unable to play on Wednesday. Greene is dealing with loose particles in his right knee.