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Cards aiming to post more zeros
04/16/2008 1:55 AM ETBy Matthew Leach / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- Peruse the best pitching staffs in the National League thus far, and a lot of the names are expected. The D-backs, with Dan Haren and Brandon Webb. The Padres, with Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and a pitcher-friendly ballpark. The Mets, with new acquisition Johan Santana.
One name stands out, though. The Cardinals are second in the NL in ERA at 3.12. They're tied for the fewest total runs allowed, with 47. They're tied for the fewest runs per game, at 3.36. With a rotation that many considered patchwork at the start of the year, and a bullpen down one key member, the Redbirds are keeping runs off the board.
As a result, they're winning games. St. Louis' 10-4 record is tied for the best in baseball. They'll try to keep up both trends on Wednesday night when they send their ace to the mound against one of the league's most dangerous lineups.
In particular, the Cardinals' bullpen has been brilliant after a slow start. The group's ERA is a stingy 2.74, and it leads the league with seven saves. Jason Isringhausen has been outstanding in the ninth, Ryan Franklin has bounced back from a slow first week to be rock-solid in the eighth and rookie Kyle McClellan is emerging as a middle-inning force.
"I would think that we should be right there," Franklin said. "Everybody kind of works into their roles. Obviously I kind of knew mine, but Kyle didn't know his. Now he kind of understands when he's got to get prepared. I think that helps a ton."
The group got 12 outs on Tuesday, but the hope is it won't have to work so hard on Wednesday. With Wainwright taking the mound, ideally the relief corps will only need to pitch an inning or two. He's gone seven and eight innings in his first two starts of the year, and he went at least seven in 14 of his last 23 starts in 2007.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Adam Wainwright (1-1, 3.60 ERA)
Wainwright's last outing was a strange one, with some hard-hit balls but six strikeouts and no walks. It ended with a loss, but the total picture for the Cardinals' No. 1 starter is very good so far: 10 strikeouts, one walk, one home run and a solid ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio. The Brewers are a good test for any pitcher, but he pitched solidly against them last year, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts.
MIL: RHP Carlos Villanueva (1-1, 4.76 ERA)
Villanueva had no trouble at all with the top half of the Reds' potent batting order in his previous start. The bottom five hitters, however, gave him trouble. He worked three full turns through the Cincinnati order and the top four hitters combined to go 0-for-11 with a walk. But the Reds' bottom five combined to go 7-for-12 with four RBIs against Villanueva, with all four of the runs charged to the Brewers right-hander. He is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in eight career appearances against the Cards.
Tidbits
The Cardinals have a six-game home winning streak, their longest since moving into the current Busch Stadium. ... St. Louis has won its past seven home meetings with Milwaukee. ... Wainwright has not allowed more than four earned runs in a start since July 25, 2007. ... The Cardinals' 10-4 start is their best since 1982. ... Albert Pujols is 6-for-15 (.400) with two home runs against Villanueva.
Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• FSN-HD
On radio
• KTRS 550
Up next
• Thursday: Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 2-0, 1.04) vs. Brewers (Manny Parra, 1-1, 4.82), 12:15 p.m. CT
• Friday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 1-0, 4.00) vs. Giants (Matt Cain, 0-1, 3.24), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 0-1, 14.73) vs. Giants (Tim Lincecum, 2-0, 2.25), 12:10 p.m. CT
04/16/2008 1:55 AM ETBy Matthew Leach / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- Peruse the best pitching staffs in the National League thus far, and a lot of the names are expected. The D-backs, with Dan Haren and Brandon Webb. The Padres, with Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and a pitcher-friendly ballpark. The Mets, with new acquisition Johan Santana.
One name stands out, though. The Cardinals are second in the NL in ERA at 3.12. They're tied for the fewest total runs allowed, with 47. They're tied for the fewest runs per game, at 3.36. With a rotation that many considered patchwork at the start of the year, and a bullpen down one key member, the Redbirds are keeping runs off the board.
As a result, they're winning games. St. Louis' 10-4 record is tied for the best in baseball. They'll try to keep up both trends on Wednesday night when they send their ace to the mound against one of the league's most dangerous lineups.
In particular, the Cardinals' bullpen has been brilliant after a slow start. The group's ERA is a stingy 2.74, and it leads the league with seven saves. Jason Isringhausen has been outstanding in the ninth, Ryan Franklin has bounced back from a slow first week to be rock-solid in the eighth and rookie Kyle McClellan is emerging as a middle-inning force.
"I would think that we should be right there," Franklin said. "Everybody kind of works into their roles. Obviously I kind of knew mine, but Kyle didn't know his. Now he kind of understands when he's got to get prepared. I think that helps a ton."
The group got 12 outs on Tuesday, but the hope is it won't have to work so hard on Wednesday. With Wainwright taking the mound, ideally the relief corps will only need to pitch an inning or two. He's gone seven and eight innings in his first two starts of the year, and he went at least seven in 14 of his last 23 starts in 2007.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Adam Wainwright (1-1, 3.60 ERA)
Wainwright's last outing was a strange one, with some hard-hit balls but six strikeouts and no walks. It ended with a loss, but the total picture for the Cardinals' No. 1 starter is very good so far: 10 strikeouts, one walk, one home run and a solid ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio. The Brewers are a good test for any pitcher, but he pitched solidly against them last year, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts.
MIL: RHP Carlos Villanueva (1-1, 4.76 ERA)
Villanueva had no trouble at all with the top half of the Reds' potent batting order in his previous start. The bottom five hitters, however, gave him trouble. He worked three full turns through the Cincinnati order and the top four hitters combined to go 0-for-11 with a walk. But the Reds' bottom five combined to go 7-for-12 with four RBIs against Villanueva, with all four of the runs charged to the Brewers right-hander. He is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in eight career appearances against the Cards.
Tidbits
The Cardinals have a six-game home winning streak, their longest since moving into the current Busch Stadium. ... St. Louis has won its past seven home meetings with Milwaukee. ... Wainwright has not allowed more than four earned runs in a start since July 25, 2007. ... The Cardinals' 10-4 start is their best since 1982. ... Albert Pujols is 6-for-15 (.400) with two home runs against Villanueva.
Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person. On the Internet
MLB.TV Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• FSN-HD
On radio
• KTRS 550
Up next
• Thursday: Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 2-0, 1.04) vs. Brewers (Manny Parra, 1-1, 4.82), 12:15 p.m. CT
• Friday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 1-0, 4.00) vs. Giants (Matt Cain, 0-1, 3.24), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 0-1, 14.73) vs. Giants (Tim Lincecum, 2-0, 2.25), 12:10 p.m. CT
..........Good one Schwa....
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