After finally receiving a day off on Monday, the Cardinals return to the field at Busch Stadium on Tuesday evening. The off-day was St. Louis' first since July 25, a span of three weeks, and the Redbirds don't have another until Sept. 1.
It's a grueling stretch of summer scheduling, and the Cards have handled it quite well for the most part. But the break was nonetheless welcome, and it may be a re-energized club that takes the field on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals will send steady Jeff Suppan to the mound, as he tries to become the Cards' fourth 12-game winner. He's been going pretty well lately, though he's winless in his last four home starts. Suppan hasn't permitted more than four earned runs in a start since June 19, a span of nine games.
Arizona will counter with lefty Brad Halsey, who has turned out to be a nice find. Acquired in the trade that sent Randy Johnson to the Yankees, Halsey has been consistently solid for the D-Backs all year. He has not allowed a home run in 114 at-bats by left-handers all season.
Pitching matchup:
ARI: LHP Brad Halsey
• 8-8, 3.96 ERA in 2005
• Has never faced STL
STL: RHP Jeff Suppan
• 11-8, 4.12 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 1.70 ERA vs. ARI in 2005
Player to watch
David Eckstein has been hitting with a little bit of power lately, especially at home. For the year, he's batting .290 at Busch with a .424 slugging percentage.
Quotable
"It's not the first time we've gotten hurt. We did well in 2002. ... We found a way to win." -- Manager Tony La Russa, on the injuries that have hit the Cardinals this year
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• ARI: FSN Arizona
• STL: FSN Midwest
On radio
• ARI: KTAR 620, KSUN 1400 (Español)
• STL: KMOX 1120
Quick hits
Suppan's win over Arizona earlier this year was the first of his career against the D-Backs, for whom he pitched in 1998. ... Suppan has gone 27-17 for St. Louis, bringing his career record to within three games of .500. ... Suppan has not issued an intentional walk this year. ... The Cardinals have won just one of their last four home series (two splits, one lost). ... Including the All-Star break, the Cardinals are 9-1 in the game after an off-day this year.
On deck
• Wednesday: vs. Diamondbacks, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: vs. Diamondbacks, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Friday: vs. Giants, 7:10 p.m. CT
Let's sweep these mother fuckers!
It's a grueling stretch of summer scheduling, and the Cards have handled it quite well for the most part. But the break was nonetheless welcome, and it may be a re-energized club that takes the field on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals will send steady Jeff Suppan to the mound, as he tries to become the Cards' fourth 12-game winner. He's been going pretty well lately, though he's winless in his last four home starts. Suppan hasn't permitted more than four earned runs in a start since June 19, a span of nine games.
Arizona will counter with lefty Brad Halsey, who has turned out to be a nice find. Acquired in the trade that sent Randy Johnson to the Yankees, Halsey has been consistently solid for the D-Backs all year. He has not allowed a home run in 114 at-bats by left-handers all season.
Pitching matchup:
ARI: LHP Brad Halsey
• 8-8, 3.96 ERA in 2005
• Has never faced STL
STL: RHP Jeff Suppan
• 11-8, 4.12 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 1.70 ERA vs. ARI in 2005
Player to watch
David Eckstein has been hitting with a little bit of power lately, especially at home. For the year, he's batting .290 at Busch with a .424 slugging percentage.
Quotable
"It's not the first time we've gotten hurt. We did well in 2002. ... We found a way to win." -- Manager Tony La Russa, on the injuries that have hit the Cardinals this year
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• ARI: FSN Arizona
• STL: FSN Midwest
On radio
• ARI: KTAR 620, KSUN 1400 (Español)
• STL: KMOX 1120
Quick hits
Suppan's win over Arizona earlier this year was the first of his career against the D-Backs, for whom he pitched in 1998. ... Suppan has gone 27-17 for St. Louis, bringing his career record to within three games of .500. ... Suppan has not issued an intentional walk this year. ... The Cardinals have won just one of their last four home series (two splits, one lost). ... Including the All-Star break, the Cardinals are 9-1 in the game after an off-day this year.
On deck
• Wednesday: vs. Diamondbacks, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: vs. Diamondbacks, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Friday: vs. Giants, 7:10 p.m. CT
Let's sweep these mother fuckers!
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