Jeff Gordon previews today's St. Louis Cardinals-Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park (1:05 p.m., FSM):
THE STAKES: As the free fall continues, the challenge has changed. Rather than pretend to be in the playoff race, the Cardinals should focus on staving off total embarrassment.
They are threatening to stage a collapse of historic proportions, an epic collective failure that will become part of franchise folklore. Is this how the 2010 Cards want to be remembered?
PITCHING FOR THE CARDINALS: Jeff Suppan (1-6, 5.72 ERA): He is back from the disabled list and looking to reclaim his rotation slot. The Cards hope he can build on his last start . . . if he can even remember his last start. That came back on July 31, when he threw 5 1/3 shutout innings at the Pirates in an 11-1 victory.
He is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA against Houston this season. Geoff Blum (15 for 28, four doubles, two homers, nine RBIs) and Hunter Pence (5 for 15, double, two homers) have been hard on him during their careers.
PITCHING FOR THE ASTROS: Nelson Figueroa (3-2, 2.77 ERA): He is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in four career starts against the Cardinals. He is 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA in three relief appearances against them this season.
Pedro Feliz (5 for 9, double, RBI), Yadier Molina (3 for 6) and Felipe Lopez (2 for 6, double, RBI) have hit him well.
LINEUP INTRIGUE: Outfielder Jon Jay got his crack at leading off Tuesday. He went 1 for 3 in that role against tough lefty Wandy Rodriguez.
In the Post-Ludwick Era, the Cards need Colby Rasmus to fill a run-producing role. In his first two starts since coming back from a calf muscle strain, Rasmus went 0 for 6 with a walk. Since Aug. 13, he is 1 for 14 with eight strikeouts. So far, so bad for Colby's bid to step up.
Allen Craig mustered a modest five-game hitting streak with two doubles, a homer, two runs scored, three RBIs and two walks. Then he went hitless in his next eight plate appearances - with two walks and a run scored - and got shipped out to the minors again.
While Craig wasn't been great during his latest stint, the Cards were helpless against lefthanded starters in his absence. Perhaps Nick Stavinoha, back from Memphis again after demolishing Triple-A pitching, will fill the void.
BULLPEN INTRIGUE: The team got Dennys Reyes back from the disabled list. But is he back to 100 percent? In his last two outings, spanning two innings, Reyes allowed four runs on six hits.
With Suppan returning to the rotation, Kyle Lohse won't start again until next Tuesday. Perhaps Kyle will be available for emergency duty in the likely event of another blowout loss.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Remember Joe Mather? The man known as "Joey Bombs" got his career back on track in August, hitting .368 for Memphis with 10 doubles, five homers, 22 RBIs and a .868 OPS. That surge pushed his season average back to a respectable .274.
Shortstop Tyler Greene stroked three doubles as the Class AAA Redbirds fell to New Orleans 12-7 Tuesday night to snap out of a 2-for-17 slump. He has been hitting .310 since his latest return to the minor leagues.
Memphis remains in the Pacific Coast League playoff hunt. At the Class AA level, Springfield is still battling for a Texas League playoff spot.
Third baseman Matt Carpenter (hitting .322, bidding for the league batting title), starting pitcher David Kopp (12-4, 3.13 ERA at Springfield) and catcher Steven Hill (now toiling in Memphis) made the 2010 Texas League All-Star Team.
