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Ankiel itching to get back in lineup
08/02/2008 12:13 AM ET
By Lee Hurwitz / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- As he watches the Cardinals compete in a pennant race, all Rick Ankiel can do is sit idly and watch his team play.
In the midst of a comeback no one could have seen coming, Ankiel's name will likely remain out of the lineup until the Dodgers come to town on Tuesday.
How much longer he stays out is unknown.
"He continues to improve," manager Tony La Russa said. "It's still an abdominal strain, but improving."
Ankiel has been limited to pinch-hitting since he suffered a lower abdominal strain on Saturday in New York. Running has been difficult, but if Ankiel heals well, La Russa said he expects the center fielder may start after the Cardinals' day off on Monday.
"We're just tracking him day-to-day," La Russa said.
Since July 10, Ankiel has been on an absolute tear. For the past 14 games, he has batted .389 with 13 RBIs and an OPS that makes stat geeks go crazy -- 1.069.
But his injury couldn't come at a worse time for the Cardinals. After playing against a vaunted Philadelphia lineup, the Redbirds entertain the Dodgers and newly acquired slugger Manny Ramirez for a three-game set. After that series, the Cards face the Cubs in Chicago and the Marlins in Florida.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Braden Looper (10-8, 4.38 ERA)
Looper faces a tough task in the hard-hitting Phillies, a team that made him labor three weeks ago. In that start, at Citizens Bank Park, Looper needed 112 pitches to go six innings. However, he's coming off a very solid game in Atlanta, a game in which he righted a recent problem -- the long ball. He didn't allow a home run against the Braves, after serving up 10 in his previous six starts. If he keeps it in the park, he should be fine.
PHI: RHP Joe Blanton (5-12, 5.13 ERA)
Blanton's start against the Braves on Sunday was cut short when the game was delayed for two hours by rain. In two innings before the delay, the Phils' new addition surrendered two runs on three hits. Blanton will make his third start for the Phils against the Cardinals, a team he has not yet faced, having just joined the National League after 3 1/2 seasons with the Athletics.
Tidbits
The Cardinals named Triple-A Memphis players Josh Phelps and Jason Motte their Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, on Friday. Phelps hit .337 with 14 home runs and 16 RBIs in July, while Motte went 1-0 with a 0.57 ERA in 13 games. ... In 59 games against the Phillies (one start), Looper is 2-5 with a 5.85 ERA. ... For his career, Looper is 8-8 with a 3.82 ERA in August. ... In 19 at-bats against Blanton, Adam Kennedy is batting .316 with four extra-base hits. Troy Glaus is the only other player on the Cardinals who has faced Blanton.
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
• Sunday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 8-4, 4.13) vs. Phillies (Brett Myers, 4-9, 5.46), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 0-0, 2.25) vs. Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 11-9, 3.05), 7:15 p.m. CT
08/02/2008 12:13 AM ET
By Lee Hurwitz / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- As he watches the Cardinals compete in a pennant race, all Rick Ankiel can do is sit idly and watch his team play.
In the midst of a comeback no one could have seen coming, Ankiel's name will likely remain out of the lineup until the Dodgers come to town on Tuesday.
How much longer he stays out is unknown.
"He continues to improve," manager Tony La Russa said. "It's still an abdominal strain, but improving."
Ankiel has been limited to pinch-hitting since he suffered a lower abdominal strain on Saturday in New York. Running has been difficult, but if Ankiel heals well, La Russa said he expects the center fielder may start after the Cardinals' day off on Monday.
"We're just tracking him day-to-day," La Russa said.
Since July 10, Ankiel has been on an absolute tear. For the past 14 games, he has batted .389 with 13 RBIs and an OPS that makes stat geeks go crazy -- 1.069.
But his injury couldn't come at a worse time for the Cardinals. After playing against a vaunted Philadelphia lineup, the Redbirds entertain the Dodgers and newly acquired slugger Manny Ramirez for a three-game set. After that series, the Cards face the Cubs in Chicago and the Marlins in Florida.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Braden Looper (10-8, 4.38 ERA)
Looper faces a tough task in the hard-hitting Phillies, a team that made him labor three weeks ago. In that start, at Citizens Bank Park, Looper needed 112 pitches to go six innings. However, he's coming off a very solid game in Atlanta, a game in which he righted a recent problem -- the long ball. He didn't allow a home run against the Braves, after serving up 10 in his previous six starts. If he keeps it in the park, he should be fine.
PHI: RHP Joe Blanton (5-12, 5.13 ERA)
Blanton's start against the Braves on Sunday was cut short when the game was delayed for two hours by rain. In two innings before the delay, the Phils' new addition surrendered two runs on three hits. Blanton will make his third start for the Phils against the Cardinals, a team he has not yet faced, having just joined the National League after 3 1/2 seasons with the Athletics.
Tidbits
The Cardinals named Triple-A Memphis players Josh Phelps and Jason Motte their Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, on Friday. Phelps hit .337 with 14 home runs and 16 RBIs in July, while Motte went 1-0 with a 0.57 ERA in 13 games. ... In 59 games against the Phillies (one start), Looper is 2-5 with a 5.85 ERA. ... For his career, Looper is 8-8 with a 3.82 ERA in August. ... In 19 at-bats against Blanton, Adam Kennedy is batting .316 with four extra-base hits. Troy Glaus is the only other player on the Cardinals who has faced Blanton.
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
• Sunday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 8-4, 4.13) vs. Phillies (Brett Myers, 4-9, 5.46), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 0-0, 2.25) vs. Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 11-9, 3.05), 7:15 p.m. CT
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