Cardinals look to snap losing streak with Carpenter

July 25, 2010

Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs are hoping to complete a 3 game sweep of the St Louis Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals have lost 3 in a row after winning their first 7 games to start the second half. The St Louis offense has gone quiet over the losing streak as they have scored just 5 runs in 3 games.

Fortunately, the Cardinals have 2 of the best pitchers in baseball. Adam Wainwright and Sunday’s starter Chris Carpenter have a knack for putting ends to losing streaks. They have combined for 25 wins and just 8 losses this season, and are the main reason why the St Louis isn’t 5 or 6 games back of the division leading Reds at this point.

Carpenter has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the game for 7 years. He sat out most of 2007 and 2008 with injuries, but was 15-5, 21-5 and 15-8 in his 3 previous full seasons. Last year he posted a 17-4 record with a career low 2.24 earned run average. He should have a better record that 11-3 this season, but has not received run supports in several outing in which he pitched well.

Carpenter will have to be on his game as he faces a Cubs team that has flipped the switch since learning about head coach Lou Piniella’s plans to retire after this year. The power hitters in the Chicago line-up have been almost absent this season. Derrick Lee is batting just .252 with 11 homeruns and 44 runs batted in. Aramis Ramirez is even worse! He currently has a .227 batting average with 15 homeruns and 47 RBI’s. These two are usually counted on to drive in well over 100 runs and hit between 30 and 40 homeruns a year. Their lack of production has put a huge burden on the bottom of the line-up. The one bright spot offensively has been the play of center fielder Marlon Byrd. Byrd was brought in from Texas and has not disappointed in his first year with the Cubs. He had a career season in 2009 as he drove in 89 runs and hit 20 homers. His numbers are very similar this year with the exception that his batting average is up over .310.

Being 9.5 games out in the N.L. Central isn’t as bad as being that far out in the A.L. East. Although it would take a phenomenal second half to make up the gap, it is very possible with the teams in front of them being only 10 and 11 games over .500. Piniella has been one of the better coaches in the league for a long time, and has the respect of his players.

His pitching staff may seem like a group of misfits, but they are very talented and capable of pushing this team back into the playoff hunt. Ryan Dempster has assumed the roll as ace of this staff. He is in the top 10 in strikeouts in the National League, and leads the Cubs with a 3.70 earned run average. He will need to navigate a tough Cardinals line-up that includes perhaps the best hitter in the game.

Albert Pujols is having a bad year, and he’s still amongst the leaders in several offensive categories. Matt Holliday has been a huge pick up from Colorado, and has fit in nicely as he protects Pujols in the batting order. The rest of the St Louis line-up is average with the exception of Colby Rasmus. Rasmus has 16 homers and 43 RBI’s thus far, and is on his way to having his best season as a pro.

The oddsmakers have made St. Louis a substantial favorite for Sunday’s game. Many MLB predictions had the Cardinals winning the National League pennant, and possible winning the World Series. For today’s game, most baseball handicappers would tell you to bet on the better pitcher. Carpenter should be at his best Sunday as he tries to get his team out of their current slump. However, it will come down to the Cardinals hitters. They will need to break out of their funk, and get an early lead so that Carpenter can settle in and relax. My MLB prediction is to take the under as both teams will have to fight for each run.

Written by Glenn Andrew · Filed Under MLB

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