Philadelphia @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2011 ) Philadelphia 1, St. Louis 2

THE STORY: Although they didn't play a game, the St. Louis Cardinals suffered a disastrous loss on Monday. The team learned that the face of the franchise - Albert Pujols - will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured left forearm. The three-time National League MVP suffered the injury in a collision with Wilson Betemit during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Winners of four of their last 12, the Cardinals will have to collect themselves when they face Roy Halladay on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner will make his second attempt at becoming baseball's first 10-game winner this season.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, WB17 (Philadelphia), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (9-3, 2.56 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Kyle McClellan (6-3, 3.96). Halladay, the National League leader in strikeouts with 114, is also tied with teammate Cole Hamels with a league-leading nine wins. Hamels was unsuccessful in his bid for his 10th win when the Phillies dropped a 2-0 decision to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Halladay, in his first attempt at victory No. 10, received a no-decision after allowing four runs on six hits in seven innings against the Florida Marlins on Wednesday. Halladay has posted a 2-0 career mark with one complete game and a slim 1.13 ERA versus the Cardinals. McClellan has cooled off considerably after a blistering start to the season. A trip to the disabled list didn't help matters, and the reliever turned starter returned to get blasted by the Washington Nationals. McClellan yielded five runs on seven hits in five innings en route to a 10-0 loss on Wednesday. McClellan has collected a pair of losses while serving in a relief role in 10 career appearances against the Phillies.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (45-28): Ryan Howard collected two of the team's three hits Sunday. The St. Louis native has been on a tear lately, going 12-for-31 in his last nine games. Howard has also feasted at Busch Stadium, batting .365 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in his career against the Cardinals. Five-time All-Star second baseman Chase Utley has failed to secure a hit in his last nine at-bats. After a sluggish start, reliever Michael Stutes is coming on in the Phillies' bullpen. He hasn't been scored upon in 15 of his last 17 appearances while striking out 19 in the process. All told, the Phillies' relievers haven't allowed a run in 17 innings.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (40-33): With Pujols on the disabled list, veteran Lance Berkman will likely fill in long-term at first base. Of course, it should be noted that Berkman is nursing back and leg injuries of his own. He was originally going to enjoy a day off on Sunday, but Pujols' injury rushed him into action. After mustering only one hit in nine career at-bats, rookie Andrew Brown collected his first multi-hit performance of his career Sunday. Third baseman David Freese, sidelined with a fractured hand since the beginning of May, began a rehab assignment in Triple A Memphis on Monday and is hoping to return to the Cardinals next week.

FINAL PITCH: "How many runs did we score? How many hits did we get? Then I’m not very pleased with it.” - Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, after Sunday's loss.