Cardinals next four games are against the Dodgers

The Cardinals continue their run against a very difficult schedule with four more games against the Dodgers followed by another series against the Cubs next weekend. They started off this 21-game stretch by taking two of three from the Cubs, but they’ve lost four straight series. After spending a week on the road, they will host the Dodgers for four straight games, beginning this afternoon.

A week ago, these two teams matched up and the Dodgers took two of three. John wrote the preview for that series, and not all that much has changed. The Cardinals will not have to face Clayton Kershaw, but two of the pitchers are carryovers from last week as Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda start the first two games of the series against Mike Leake and Michael Wacha.

On Wednesday, Alex Wood will start for the Dodgers. Wood has been dominant for the Dodgers this season, striking out 31% of batters, walking 8% and giving up just one homer. The lefty’s velocity has returned this season, and he’s combined his twoseasmer with a change and a curve, keeping the ball on the ground 68% of the time. His playing time started slowly this season as he ramped things up, and he’s only gone six innings three times this season, but he’s been great in the innings he’s provided thus far. Carlos Martinez will pitch for the Cardinals.

On Thursday afternoon, Brandon McCarthy will pitch for Los Angeles. McCarthy has gotten off to a very good start for the Dodgers after pitching just 63 innings combined in 2015 and 2016. He’s got a solid strikeout rate, a good walk rate and kept the ball in the park. He’s had some difficulties with his knee this season, but is expected to make his start against the Cardinals. McCarthy’s pitch mix is interesting as he throws three low-90s fastballs—a fourseamer, a cutter, and a sinker—each about one quarter of the time with the curve making up the rest of the pitches. Adam Wainwright will pitch for the Cardinals.

This series preview is slightly abbreviated due to the holiday and the repeat of the team the Cardinals just played. There are unusual start times to this series as today is a holiday, Tuesday’s game is on ESPN, and Thursday’s game is a getaway day.

Today, May 29, 1:15 pm CT, Fox Sports Midwest

Tuesday, May 30, 6:05 pm CT, Fox Sports Midwest, ESPN

Wednesday, May 31, 7:15 pm CT, Fox Sports Midwest, ESPN

Thursday, June 1, 12:45 pm CT, Fox Sports Midwest, ESPN, MLB Network