Arizona @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2011 ) Arizona 4, St. Louis 1
THE STORY: Did Albert Pujols come back too early? The prodigious slugger is 1-for-9 and has grounded into two double plays in two games since returning early from the broken wrist he suffered June 19. St. Louis has lost both, including 4-1 to visiting Arizona on Thursday in the opener of this four-game series. With the Cardinals now tied for first with Milwaukee in the NL Central, Pujols will try to get untracked Friday night against Ian Kennedy. Pujols doubled in his only at-bat against Kennedy in April. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, remain two games behind San Francisco for the NL West lead. Arizona has won four of six while St. Louis has lost four of six.
TV: 8:15 p.m., FS-M, FS-A
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (8-5, 2.97 ERA) vs. RH Ian Kennedy (8-3, 3.38 ERA).
Lohse has cooled off lately, striking out just four batters in his last three starts. St. Louis has lost four of his last five starts. In seven career starts against the D’backs, Lohse is 2-1 with a 4.71 ERA. Kennedy’s only start against St. Louis was a nightmare: He was lit up for nine earned runs in three innings of a 15-5 loss on April 13. But batters are hitting just .236 against him and he’s gone eight innings in three of his last five outings.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (47-42): St. Louis, which ranks second in the NL with 416 runs, mustered just three hits in Thursday’s loss and failed to capitalize on six walks. All-Star Matt Holliday, however, continues to produce. He’s got five hits in his last 13 at-bats, with three homers, a double and six RBIs.
ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (48-41): Justin Upton was left off the NL’s Home Run Derby team by Prince Fielder, who chose Holliday, the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp and his own teammate Rickie Weeks. Upton responded by blasting a two-run homer Thursday. Kennedy could join Upton on the All-Star team in place of an injured pitcher or one who starts Sunday. He’s definitely deserving but finished last in the fans’ All-Star Game Final Vote.
FINAL PITCH: Cards center fielder Colby Rasmus sat Thursday after striking out four times Wednesday. He’s hitting .174 in July. St. Louis backup catcher Gerald Laird was activated from the DL.