Jeff Gordon previews tonight's St. Louis Cardinals-Houston Astros game at Minute Maid park (7:05 p.m., FSM):
THE STAKES: The Reds are blowing the slumping Cardinals out of the National League Central race. Cincinnati's division lead is five games and growing.
The Cards are three games back in the wild-card race, behind both the Phillies and Giants. So another bad week of baseball could virtually end their playoff chase and shift the organization's focus to 2011.
What more needs to be said?
PITCHING FOR THE CARDINALS: Jake Westbrook (1-2, 4.06 ERA): He pitched well during his previous start against Houston this season, allowing two runs in six innings.
Astros slugger Carlos Lee has owned Westbrook dating back to their American League days -- batting .406 (13 for 32) with three doubles, a homer and four RBI.
PITCHING FOR THE ASTROS: J.A. Happ (4-2, 3.45 ERA): In his previous outing against the Cards, he retired just three of the nine batters he faced. The Cards tagged the big lefthander for seven runs.
Albert Pujols (4 for 7, double, homer, three RBIs), Matt Holliday (3 for 4, two RBIs), Yadier Molina (2 for 4, two RBIs) and Felipe Lopez (1 for 3, two walks, RBI) have hit Happ well in his young career.
LINEUP INTRIGUE: Stop the presses: It appears Colby Rasmus is ready to return to full-time active duty after recovering from a calf muscle strain. His absence punched a hole in the Cards lineup and helped fuel the team's offensive inconsistency.
Second baseman Skip Schumaker (9 for 21, three runs, three RBI) has a seven-game hitting streak, but he likely will share time with switch-hitters Aaron Miles (hitting .366 in July) and Lopez.
Brendan Ryan (hitting .266 since the All-Star break) has also lost some playing time as Tony La Russa shuffles his middle infielders on a daily basis. Ryan cooled off after falling into a platoon role.
BULLPEN INTRIGUE: Closer Ryan Franklin has a 6.52 ERA this month. Mitchell Boggs has a 5.40 ERA this month. Fill-in Mike MacDougal posted an 8.74 ERA in 10 outings.
Even Kyle McClellan has joined the suffering, allowing three runs in his last 1 1/3 innings after allowing just two runs in his previous 20 outings.
Dennys Reyes is on the disabled list with no timetable to return. Jason Motte is on the comeback trail from his shoulder strain.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Memphis has won six consecutive games to move within a half game of the division lead, so the Redbirds hope they don't lose too many key players to the Cards on Sept. 1. That team seems armed for another playoff run.
Starting pitcher Brandon Dickson (11-8, 3.24 ERA) is finishing well at the Class AAA level, moving himself closer to big league consideration. In his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, he allowed just four earned runs.
Outfielder Nick Stavinoha (3 for 5, double, RBI) pushed his batting average back over .400 Sunday for the Redbirds. In 97 minor league at bats this summer, he has built a 1.119 OPS. The Cards will welcome him back with the September roster expansion.
First baseman Mark Hamilton could some day give the Cards another lefthanded bat with power. In 160 at-bats against righthanded pitchers at Memphis this season, he hit .313 with 15 homers and 49 RBI.
