THE WATERCOOLER:
Kyle Lohse pitches tonight against the Reds and Todd Wellemeyer on Tuesday. Neither has had the same numbers as last season. Which pitcher’s return to form is more important for the Cardinals?

JOE STRAUSS:
Either would be nice. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are arguably right there with the Giants’ Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as the NL’s most productive 1-2. Joel Pineiro enjoys a Top 15 ERA without the deserved W-L. The need for a fifth starter only eight times the remainder of the season would suggest it’s more important that Lohse find his bearings. TLR suggested Wednesday in New York that Lohse is improving physically but is not 100 percent since his 39-day stay on the disabled list due to a forearm strain. Wellemeyer appears to be on probation and must find something positive from Tuesday’s start. Is it a problem? Sure. However, the Chicago Cubs currently miss Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly from their rotation. The Cardinals could get by a with a 3-man turn if they reach the Division Series and could squeeze 6 starts from three arms in a 7-game NLCS. Talk show angst aside, many would take the Cardinals’ problems right now.

BERNIE MIKLASZ:
Lohse. The 5th starter won’t get as many turns as the 4th starter the rest of the way. It’s important for the Cardinals to get Lohse back in 2008 form, because if he does they can line up a row of four quality starters. And few teams come close to that. Nudging this ahead into the future, if the Cardinals make the playoffs the fourth starter will get some assignments. Another reason why Lohse must get rolling.

RICK HUMMEL:
Lohse’s performance is more important because that spot in the rotation will get two or three more starts then Wellemeyer’s. And Wellemeyer could go to the bullpen, which Lohse really hasn’t done on any regular basis.

DERRICK GOOLD:
Kyle Lohse. Hands down. The Cardinals plan to limit the need for a fifth starter as much as possible, and that immediately reduces the impact Todd Wellemeyer could have on the remainder of the season. Lohse will start every five days and must provide the kind of quality starts that could determine whether a series is won, split or swept. Lohse’s ability to reconnect with his 2008 self has gained increased importance with Joel Pineiro’s road-trip troubles. Lohse has been billed as the team’s No. 3 starter, and the Cardinals are going to need him to pitch up to his billing to stay ahead and pull away from the Cubs.

JEFF GORDON:
Lohse is more important. This team needs four strong starting pitchers to have a real shot in postseason play. This team needs to get Lohse back to where he was last season — when he was the No. 1 starter for much of the campaign. A year ago, he could win some tough match-ups. Based on that, he should be the No. 3 starter behind Carpenter and Wainwright this season.

The fifth starter is the fifth starter. The Cards are 5-0 when Boggs pitches, so, despite La Russa’s protestations, the team could always revisit that in a pinch. Getting Lohse back to normal has to be the bigger priority. Come playoff time, the fifth starter might not even make the active 25-man roster for any of the series.