The Philadelphia Phillies don't have fond memories of the St. Louis Cardinals, against whom they'll begin a four-game road series on Thursday. The Cardinals eliminated the Phillies in the 2011 National League Division Series on their way to a World Series title. The Phillies have subsequently struggled without Ryan Howard, who made the last out in that series - injuring his Achilles' tendon in the process. Philadelphia is mired in last place in the NL East while St. Louis remains atop the NL Central after completing a three-game sweep of San Diego.
Catcher Carlos Ruiz excelled in his first career game as the Phillies' clean-up hitter, going 3-for-4 to raise his average to .357. Ruiz, however, suffered a right wrist contusion in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Washington. X-rays after the game were negative and he is listed as day-to-day. Carlos Beltran belted his National League-leading 14th homer as the Cardinals cruised to a 6-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, WB17 (Philadelphia), FSMW (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Joe Blanton (4-4, 3.74 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (4-3, 2.41 ERA)
Blanton had been pitching well until his last outing. The 31-year-old yielded a career-high four homers en route to a seven-run, nine-hit effort in a 7-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Blanton added to his forgettable outing by committing two errors. The right-hander has fared well versus St. Louis, going 3-2 in his career with a 1.12 WHIP.
Westbrook surrendered four runs for the third time in his last four starts, going 1-2 with a no-decision in that span. The 34-year-old has alternated wins and losses since his second start of the season. Westbrook has split a pair of career decisions versus Philadelphia but boasts a gaudy 1.63 WHIP and a .281 batting average against.
WALK-OFFS
1. After sitting out three games following the birth of his child on Sunday, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins will return to the lineup on Thursday. In Rollins' absence, Mike Fontenot had played second base to allow rookie Freddy Galvis to shift over to shortstop.
2. Beltran has been torching the competition despite a knee injury which sidelined him for four starts. He has struggled versus Blanton, collecting just three singles in 16 career at-bats.
3. St. Louis placed utility infielder Matt Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right side muscle. Carpenter became the seventh St. Louis player on the disabled list.