The Cardinals open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, going for their fourth straight victory at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis begins a seven-game homestand after a 3-3 road trip. The Cardinals, who have won nine of 13 overall, lost 8-2 to Colorado on Thursday, failing to complete a three-game sweep.
Eight games out of first place in the NL Central and four games back of Atlanta for the second wild-card spot, St. Louis (56-49) could make up ground while playing 16 of its next 19 at Busch Stadium, where it went 12-3 in July to improve to 29-21 this season.
Matt Holliday is hitting .341 at home this year and .464 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in his last 19 games there. He had three homers and nine RBIs in the first two games against the Rockies before going 0 for 3 on Thursday.
The Cardinals could be without Lance Berkman after he re-injured his surgically repaired right knee Thursday. In 15 games since returning, he's hitting .182 with one homer and three RBIs.
St. Louis will try to provide some offense for Friday's starter Joe Kelly, who has performed admirably since being called up in June but hasn't received much run support.
Kelly (1-4, 2.96 ERA) hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his nine starts while filling in for the injured Jaime Garcia. The right-hander allowed three runs and five hits while striking out a season-high six over 6 1-3 innings of a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
St. Louis has lost five of Kelly's last six starts. He's 0-4 in that stretch despite posting six consecutive quality starts, including a 3-2 loss at Milwaukee on July 17 in which he gave up three runs - two earned - in six innings.
He'll face a Brewers team that may have some renewed confidence after taking advantage of the majors' worst club this week.
Milwaukee (48-56) is coming off a three-game sweep of Houston, outscoring the Astros 31-12. The Brewers won 13-4 on Wednesday as Ryan Braun hit his NL-leading 29th homer and Rickie Weeks, Jonathan Lucroy and Cesar Izturis also went deep.
The defending NL Central champions are 15 1/2 games behind first-place Cincinnati and 11 1/2 out in the wild-card race.
The Brewers will hand the ball to Randy Wolf (3-7, 5.45), who gave up four runs on three homers in seven innings of a 4-1 loss to Washington on Saturday.
The left-hander, who is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA in nine appearances - eight starts - on the road, has split two outings against the Cardinals this year, allowing five runs over 11 2-3 innings.
St. Louis has a 5-4 edge in the season series, winning two of three at home in April.
Brewers are 13-27 in their last 40 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 16-35 in their last 51 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
Brewers are 4-9 in their last 13 overall.
Brewers are 4-9 in their last 13 games on grass.
Brewers are 3-8 in their last 11 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 14-41 in their last 55 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
Brewers are 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 1-7 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.Brewers are 1-10 in their last 11 games as a road underdog.
Brewers are 0-8 in their last 8 games as an underdog.
Brewers are 0-6 in their last 6 road games.
Brewers are 0-5 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 1-4 in Wolfs last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Brewers are 1-5 in Wolfs last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 1-5 in Wolfs last 6 starts as an underdog.
Brewers are 1-5 in Wolfs last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Brewers are 1-5 in Wolfs last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 1-5 in Wolfs last 6 starts.
Brewers are 1-5 in Wolfs last 6 starts on grass.
Brewers are 1-8 in Wolfs last 9 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 0-6 in Wolfs last 6 road starts.
Brewers are 0-5 in Wolfs last 5 road starts with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Brewers are 0-4 in Wolfs last 4 starts as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
Brewers are 0-7 in Wolfs last 7 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150.
Brewers are 0-6 in Wolfs last 6 starts as a road underdog.
If you find anything impressive in there please let me know...it looks pretty bad to me.
Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Cardinals are 8-1 in their last 9 games as a home favorite.
Cardinals are 8-1 in their last 9 home games.
Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Cardinals are 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Cardinals are 19-7 in their last 26 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Cardinals are 9-4 in their last 13 games as a favorite.
Cardinals are 9-4 in their last 13 overall.
Cardinals are 1-4 in Kellys last 5 starts as a favorite.Cardinals are 1-5 in Kellys last 6 starts.
Wolfs last 3 starts 3.66 ERA and 1.373 WHIP..last 3 road starts 6.44 ERA and 1.731 WHIP
Kelly last 3 starts 3.44 ERA and 1.091 WHIP ...last 3 home 2.31 ERA 1.427 WHIP
Wolf is an ok pitcher but he has sucked on the road and i dont see that changing tonight. Yes the Brewers done a great job with the Astros...the worst team there is. That should tell you something - It tells me they are on a short-lived emotional high. They feel good because they won. You take a look at these 2 teams and you see quick where the talent is. Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly is good and has done his job. He simply didn't get the run support he needed to get the team a win. That changes tonight - Cardinals will put Wolf out by the 5th inning and by then they'll be up 5 runs and it wont matter. Tonight the Cardinals win big and put the Brew Crew back where they belong. I'm on the RL and the 1H of this game. Good Luck
STL CARDINALS -1½+135
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