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These are dark days for your St. Louis Cardinals. They enter today's play tied with the Mets for the second wild card, although the Cardinals do have one fewer loss, which could prove beneficial. The team is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Only 24 games remain--including this 11 game homestand against Milwaukee and Chicago. The Cardinals should destroy the Brewers.
In case you don't remember things that were happening in 2010:
- Alabama won the National Championship in college football. That might not seem interesting now given the past half decade, but it was their first since 1992.
- Rickie Weeks and Jered Weaver were six-win players.
- The iPad was introduced
- Conan O'Brien hosted the Tonight Show
- The television series Lost aired its final episode, revealing that the show's creators never had any idea what was really going on.
- Alex Reyes was only 15 years old when the 2010 season started.
- The USMNT beat Algeria in a crazy finish in the World Cup
- Lebron signed with the Heat, spurning Cleveland, a decision I'm certain Cleveland will never get over.
- Prince WIlliam got engaged.
- The San Francisco Giants were nearing the end of a World Series Championship drought that lasted more than 50 years.
Good times, good times.
Anyway, these two teams just played a little over a week ago, so if you want substantive information on many of the players to be featured in this series, feel free to read that preview.
One player who did not feature in that series is tonight's starter, Junior Guerra. I recently wrote on Guerra for FanGraphs in a post that featured older rookie pitchers, like the 31-year-old Guerra, so if you want some context on the rarity of his season, read that piece (which also included Dick Hughes, Cardinals rookie pitcher in 1967). Guerra is having an impressive season, but this will be just the second start for him since coming off the disabled list. He pitched 3.1 innings against Pittsburgh with three strikeouts, two walks and no runs. Jaime Garcia will pitch for the Cardinals.
On Friday, Jimmy Nelson will go for Milwaukee. The 27-year-old righty has had an inconsistent season with walks being a major problem. In his last start, he walked six Pirates and only struck out four, but limited the Pirates to just one run in 5.1 innings. Eight times this year Nelson has walked at least four batters and his 4.96 FIP is quite a bit higher than his 4.36 ERA. Carlos Martinez will pitch against the Brewers. Last time El Gallo went against Milwaukee, he struck out 13 batters, which is a lot.
On Saturday, Chase Anderson pitches for the Brewers. Anderson has pitched against the Cardinals three times this season, and he has held the Cardinals to three runs or fewer in all three starts, but also failed to complete five innings in two of those. Anderson is a righty, but he pitches like a lefty without a big fastball, but throws a bunch of changeups. Adam Wainwright will pitch for the Cardinals.
Zach Davies will pitch on Sunday for the Brewers. When Davies last pitched against the Cardinals, he struck out 9 batters against zero walks, but gave up two home runs and three runs as the team fell to Carlos Martinez's mastery. The change is Davies' best pitch, and he used it very well in that start against the Cardinals. Perhaps the Cardinals will be a bit more prepared this go-round. Luke Weaver will pitch for the Cardinals.
Tonight's game is at 6:15 pm CT and will air on FOX Sports Midwest
Friday's game is at 7:15 pm CT and will air on FOX Sports Midwest
Saturday's game is at 6:15 pm CT and will air on FOX Sports Midwest
Sunday's game is at 1:15 pm CT and will air on FOX Sports Midwest