Astros at Cardinals
In their chase for a National League wild card berth, the St. Louis Cardinals have an ace up their collective sleeve: They get eight more games against the woeful Astros. St. Louis cruised to a 7-0 win Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series, and hands the ball to 12-game winner Kyle Lohse on Wednesday. First baseman Allen Craig has a 10-game hitting streak after going 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored Tuesday. A big key to the NL's top offense, Craig is batting 16-for-39 (.410) with six walks in the streak.
Houston is 0-2 under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco. The Astros have lost five straight, scoring a total of eight runs in that skid, and have dropped 34 of their last 41 games. Four Astros struck out twice in Tuesday’ s loss, including former Cardinal Tyler Greene.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS-H, FS-M
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (5-10, 5.23 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (12-2, 2.61)
Norris hurt his foot on Aug. 15 at Wrigley Field, but is OK to make the start. He's lost a career-high nine straight decisions, his last win coming May 21. But Norris loves facing the Cards: He’s 7-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 12 career starts against them. St. Louis is hitting .220 against Norris.
Lohse has produced a quality start in 13 of his last 14 outings. But he’s gotten little run support the last two times out and was victimized by a blown save last week against Arizona. Batters are hitting .242 against Lohse. He’s 8-8 with a 2.93 ERA in 17 career appearances against Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston hasn’t won a series in an NL opponent’s park this season. The Astros are 12-49 on the road.
2. Cards C Yadier Molina is 8-for-14 with four RBIs in three games since returning from a back injury.
3. St. Louis continues to rotate leadoff men. With SS Rafael Furcal hitting eighth Tuesday, Jon Jay went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored from the leadoff spot.