Brewers vs. Cardinals Preview
ST. LOUIS (AP) – The St. Louis Cardinals’ previous matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers featured bean balls, a conspiracy theory about stadium lighting, alleged verbal insults to manager Tony La Russa and catcher Yadier Molina’s argument with an umpire that drew a five-game suspension.
Having barely gotten time to cool off from that tumultuous series, the NL Central contenders will begin another three-game set Tuesday night at Busch Stadium and try to extend their respective win streaks to five.
Milwaukee added to its division lead over St. Louis by winning two of three at Miller Park at the beginning of last week but not without enduring some turmoil, especially in the Cardinals’ 8-7 win in 11 innings last Tuesday.
The drama began when All-Stars Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun each were hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. After the game, La Russa claimed that Brewers fans lobbed a flurry of verbal barbs at him, including one saying he hoped the manager got “shingles again,” referring to the ailment that kept him out of six games earlier this season.
La Russa also filed a complaint with the umpiring crew that accused the Brewers of manipulating the LED boards that surround Miller Park’s second level to create different lighting in a series-opening loss Monday. MLB later investigated and dismissed those charges.
“(La Russa) does what he wants to do, and nobody in here pays attention to him,” Brewers starter Shaun Marcum told his team’s official website. “It’s him trying to play head games again. We have baseball games to win and we would rather pay attention to that.”
When he makes his first start in a week Tuesday, Marcum (10-3, 3.58 ERA) won’t have to face Molina, who will be wrapping up his suspension. The catcher bumped umpire Rob Drake and appeared to spray him with spittle after being called out on strikes in the 10th inning last Tuesday.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Cardinals -120 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Brewers. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 62% of more than 210 bets for this game have been placed on the Cardinals -120.
Marcum is seeking a fourth straight win but could use a better outing to help the Brewers (65-50) add to their three-game advantage over the Cardinals (62-53).
He gave up six runs over six innings last Tuesday after allowing two in each of his three previous outings. Marcum gave up three runs over seven innings and struck out eight during his only other matchup with St. Louis, a 4-3 home win June 12.
His counterpart for Tuesday, Edwin Jackson (1-1, 5.79), fared even worse in his most recent start, his second since being acquired from Toronto. He gave up three homers to Milwaukee’s Casey McGehee and matched career highs with 10 runs and 14 hits allowed in a 10-5 defeat to end the series Wednesday.
“Just one of those things where anything that could go their way did,” Jackson told the Cardinals’ official website. “It’s just one of those days.”
Jackson, who gave up one run over seven innings to beat Chicago 9-2 during his debut for St. Louis on July 29, was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his two previous starts against the Brewers. This time, he’ll have to deal with a lineup that’s batted .313 and outscored opponents 69-34 during an 11-1 stretch.
Prince Fielder has led the way by hitting .452 with four homers and 12 RBIs. Yuniesky Betancourt, riding a 10-game hit streak, and McGehee have also driven in 12 runs apiece.
The status of Corey Hart, hitting .362 with eight RBIs during that stretch, is unknown because of a bruised little finger on his left hand.
The Brewers have won six of the nine matchups this season with the Cardinals but lost two of three in St. Louis from May 6-8.
The Cardinals recorded their previous five-game win streak at the end of last season.
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