Jeff Gordon previews tonight's St. Louis Cardinals-Washington Nationals game at Nationals Park (6:05 p.m., FSM):
THE STAKES: The Cardinals blew their opportunity to make a major move up in the National League Central standings this week. By somehow losing two of three games at Pittsburgh, they remained on the perimeter of the playoff chase.
Their 10-game road trip is off to a dreary 1-2 start. These guys keep saying all the right things, yet they keep finding ways to fail -- particularly against poor teams.
Will that trend continue against the slumping Nationals? Or will the Cards snap out of their funk?
The Cards have won 13 of their last 15 games against Washington -- but they had dominated the Pirates, too, before losing their series in Pittsburgh.
PITCHING FOR THE CARDINALS: Chris Carpenter (14-9, 2.88 ERA): Since the All-Star break, he has been one of the top pitchers in either league -- going 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA during that span. He beat the Nationals 3-2 earlier this season.
The only National to beat up Carpenter over the years is catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who is 10 for 26 against him with five doubles, a triple, seven RBIs. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the other hand, is 1 for 10.
PITCHING FOR THE NATIONALS: Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 0.00 ERA): Another of Washington's top young pitchers continues his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He was 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 starts last season as a rookie.
LINEUP INTRIGUE: Felipe Lopez started at shortstop in place of the previously hot Brendan Ryan Wednesday and made his case by hitting a home run. Second baseman Skip Schumaker led off and went 2 for 5; he is batting .299 since the All-Star break with a .762 OPS.
Aaron Miles entered the game as a pinch-hitter and stayed to play second base, going 2 for 2 with an RBI to push his season batting average to .323. The middle infield is no longer a black hole in this offense.
In fact, middle infield is becoming an offensive strength. With Colby Rasmus still hobbling around with his perpetual calf muscle strain, Schumaker could see more time in the outfield. Skip finished Wednesday's game in right field.
Catcher Yadier Molina finally got a day off. Rookie Bryan Anderson filled in and went 1 for 4 in his absence. Anderson is now 4 for 12 in his young major league career. Will he get a second start later in the road trip?
Third baseman Pedro Feliz has hit safely in each of his Cards starts, so he's not to blame for the team's offensive struggle. He is 9 for 25 since joining the team with six runs scored.
BULLPEN INTRIGUE: Closer Ryan Franklin last saved a game back on Aug. 13. He has pitched just twice since then. With the Cards either winning big or losing, there hasn't been much need for him.
The good news: Franklin won't wear down at this pace. The bad news: He won't stay sharp, either.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Lance Lynn pitched six shutout innings to earn his 12th victory of the season in Memphis, leaving him one short of the franchise's single-season record. He is 5-1 in his last six starts with 11 earned runs allowed in 36 2/3 innings.
With a strong second half, Lynn has lowered his ERA to 4.76 and positioned himself for a long spring look from the Cards.
Reliever Jason Motte (strained shoulder) made his first rehab appearance for Memphis and retired just two of the five batters he faced. So he needs to scrape off a bit more of his rust.
