Jeff Gordon previews today's St. Louis-Cardinals-New York Mets game at Citi Field (11:10 a.m. St. Louis time, FSM):
THE STAKES: By outlasting the Mets 8-7 in 13 innings Wednesday night, the Cardinals managed to keep pace with the Reds -- who clobbered Milwaukee 10-2. The Cards remain tied with Cincinnati atop the National League Central with two games in hand.
They will spend one of those games in hand today, with an opportunity to move one-half game ahead. This is also an opportunity to close a difficult road trip on a happy note.
PITCHING FOR THE CARDINALS: Blake Hawksworth (4-6, 5.23 ERA): As the waivers-free trade deadline nears, he is on the clock. He offers great potential with his "plus" change-up and low-90s fastball.
But Hawksworth issues too many walks (28 in 63 2/3 innings) and allows too many hits (.331 opposing batting average) to have consistent success at this level. In two starts since the All-Star break, he allowed 17 hits and six walks in just 10 1/3 innings. Ouch!
This is his first start against the Mets. In four relief appearances against them, Hawksworth allowed one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings.
PITCHING FOR THE METS: R.A. Dickey (6-4, 2.55 ERA): This veteran knuckleballer has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets this season. He is 0-5 in his last six starts, but he got just nine runs of support during that span.
This is his first start against the Cards. This lack of familiarity, combined with Dickey's funky stuff, will create a huge challenge for Cards hitters.
LINEUP INTRIGUE: Ah, the old day game after a night game. What is a manager to do? The fact that the night game went 13 innings makes it extra tough on the Cards regulars. On the other hand, Tony La Russa got bench players Aaron Miles and Jason La Rue onto the field via double switches Wednesday night.
Jon Jay got on base four times starting in place of Ryan Ludwick. Colby Rasmus got on base three times after finally returning to the lineup. Matt Holliday drove in three runs and got on base three times. Ludwick needs to get back in the lineup today, so who sits?
BULLPEN INTRIGUE: Veteran reliever Mike MacDougal made his Cards debut in style, pitching the 12th inning to earn the victory. He adds another power arm to the late innings, replacing rookie Fernando Salas (who returned to Memphis with a 2.31 ERA in 10 appearances).
That's the good news. The bad news is the Cards burned through their bullpen in the 13-inning victory, which could move starter Jeff Suppan into the emergency innings-eating role.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Nick Stavinoha is 3 for 11 during his current rehab stint in Memphis. He is coming back from a mild shoulder separation.
But with Ludwick back in the lineup, Jay killing the ball and Randy Winn offering switch-hitting flexibility, Stavinoha looks like the odd man out of the mix -- barring a Cards trade that depletes the current surplus.
A bunch of August at-bats in Memphis could do Stavinoha some good, however, and he could always return to the majors in September when the rosters expand.
Veteran Renyel Pinto threw two shutout innings in a 10-1 loss to New Orleans, lowering his ERA for the Redbirds to 2.70. The former Marlin offers another bullpen option should the Cards need another lefthander/innings eater. He hasn't allowed a run in his last nine Class AAA outings.
In his first game back from the disabled list (broken collarbone), second baseman Daniel Descalso went 2 for 4 in the No. 3 spot. He is hitting .277 with 52 RBI in 296 at-bats this season.
