Cardinals Review and Preview vs. Astros for the weekend

I attended the St. Louis Cardinals game on Thursday and they were my Lock of the Day. Chris Carpenter didn't disappoint. He threw a 1 hitter threw 7 innings. In fact if former outfielder turned second baseman Skip Schumaker could have made a good throw to Khalil Greene on a routine double play with 1 out in the 7th - I could have seen history. Skip's throw was wide, Greene stayed on the bag - but couldn't make the relay throw. The next batter singled to center - poof - no hitter erased. The Cards bullpen completed the 1 hitter and the Birds beat the Pirates 2-1 to earn a split in the 4 game series.

On to the upcoming 3 game series against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium. No love lost between these two squads ever since Albert Pujols hit a ball off Brad Lidge in the NLCS in 2005 that is still traveling. The Probable Starters for the 3 game series:

Friday night April 10th

HOU Mike Hampton - Hampton will be trying to throw a full season of innings for the first time since 2004. I love this...it is called KARMA!! Mike Hampton elected to go where the money was in a free agent year years ago - he signed with the Colorado Rockies, a perennial loser instead of taking a million or two less a year and sign for a consistent winner and the St. Louis Cardinals. So every time he throws I hope his arm literally goes farther than the ball...and I'm talking his whole arm.

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STL Joel Pineiro - Pineiro has been ticked off ever since he was not chosen to pitch for Puerto Rico in the WBC - and ever since then - the guy has been lights out.

Sat. April 11th

HOU Roy Oswalt (0-1, 3.86ERA) Oswalt is the only major league quality pitcher on the Houston staff, so he bumps the #5 starter, Russ Ortiz, back. Oswalt was 0-1 vs. the Cards last year, but he is 9-6 with a 2.90ERA in his career against the Birds.

vs.

STL Adam Wainwright (0-0, 3.38ERA) Wainwright was okay in his 1st start of the year, but struggled with his control at times, allowing 5 walks. Look for Adam to bounce back and give a much more Ace like outing.

Sun. April 12th

HOU Wandy Rodriguez (0-0, 1.50ERA) Lefties have always give the Cardinals fits, and Rodriguez was no different in 2008. He was 1-2 against the Cards, but a 1.11 ERA in four starts - just no run support.

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STL Kyle Lohse (1-0, 2.57ERA) Lohse threw 108 pitches in his first outing of the year against the Pirates earlier in the week. A very rare thing for Manager Tony LaRussa, to allow a pitcher early in the year labor on a high pitch count on a very cold evening at Busch. Will there be any hangover from this?