GDT 8/26/08-Brewers (Sheets) at Cards (Wellemeyer) 7:15 CT

[fanforever]

Milwaukee (76-55) at St. Louis (73-59)

August 26, 2008
8:15 PM ET, 7:15 PM CT, 6:15 PM MT, 5:15 PM PT
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: FSWI, FSMW


Sheets (11-7) Wellemeyer (11-4)

Pujols slugs way to NL Player of the Week Award

Photo: Albert Pujols notched his seventh Player of the Week nod. (AP)

The race for the Wild Card is heating up at home


Cardinals set to open crucial series with Brewers

Photo: Troy Glaus is hitting .274 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs. (Scott Rovak/Cardinals)

Sheets to lead Brewers against Cardinals

Photo: Ben Sheets has won just once since CC Sabathia joined the Brewers. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

The Series:

Aug 26, 2008 - MIL (Sheets) @ STL (Wellemeyer) 8:15 PM ET
Aug 27, 2008 - MIL (Parra) @ STL (Wainwright) 8:15 PM ET

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview?gid=280826124

Midseason acquisition CC Sabathia joining Ben Sheets was supposed to give the Milwaukee Brewers a pair of aces at the top of their rotation.

Only the newcomer has been pitching like one.

Tuesday would be an ideal time for the Brewers to see Sheets, hoping to avoid a fifth loss in six starts, regain his top form because they face the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of two games against their closest pursuers for the NL wild card.

While Milwaukee (76-55) has won four straight and 14 of 18, St. Louis (73-59) has stayed within striking distance by winning seven of 10. The Brewers’ wild-card lead is at 3 1/2 games over the Cardinals.

“Obviously, everyone knows they are two big games, they’re right behind us in this wild-card push,” Milwaukee center fielder Mike Cameron said. “They’ve played pretty good baseball, too. Two good teams playing good baseball.”

Milwaukee has won the last six meetings to take a 9-4 lead in the season series. Both clubs had Monday off leading up to this series, the last between these teams this year.

“How much more fun is it? October is the only thing more meaningful,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of facing the division rival Brewers in a playoff chase.

Milwaukee is 16-6 in August, and half of those defeats have been charged to Sheets (11-7, 3.75 ERA).

While Sabathia has gone 8-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 10 starts for the Brewers after being acquired from Cleveland on July 7, Sheets has won once in eight outings since that trade.

A lack of run support hasn’t helped his cause during that stretch, with Milwaukee providing him two runs or less in six of those games. Sheets, though, certainly is not pitching as well as he was before Sabathia arrived, having gone 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA through his first 17 starts. He pitched into the seventh inning 11 times in that span, but has since done so just three times.

Sheets is 1-4 with a 4.06 ERA in his last five starts. He gave up a home run for the first time in seven starts last Tuesday, when he allowed five runs in six innings of a 5-2 loss to Houston.

“I ain’t pitching great but I don’t think I’m pitching as bad as it’s made out to be,” Sheets said. “I’ve pitched plenty of winnable games and I’ve pitched plenty of losable games in that stretch.”

The right-hander has not received a decision in either of his two starts this year against the Cardinals, tossing seven innings of three-run ball both times. He’s 1-6 in his last 10 outings against them, but he’s received no more than two runs of support in nine of those games, and he’s 5-14 with a 4.20 ERA in 25 career starts versus Milwaukee.

Sabathia yielded one run in six innings on Sunday, but the Brewers needed J.J. Hardy’s RBI single in the 12th to beat Pittsburgh 4-3. It was their 23rd win in their last at-bat.

Hardy had three hits and is riding a 10-game hitting streak. He’s been particularly hot in the last eight, batting .412 (14-for-34) with three homers and 11 RBIs.

Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols also has been on a tear, going 10-for-15 with two homers and 10 RBIs in the last four games. He’s hit safely in eight straight while batting .563 (18-for-32) with four homers.

His 26 hits off Sheets are the most by any major leaguer and Pujols has hit .382 against him with four homers in 68 at-bats.

Sheets will be opposed by Todd Wellemeyer (11-4, 3.79), who has won three straight starts and is unbeaten in his last eight. The converted reliever has a 2.48 ERA in his last six outings.

Wellemeyer was in line to win both of his starts this season versus Milwaukee, allowing two earned runs in 11 innings, only to see the St. Louis bullpen blow ninth-inning leads.

Last Game: (Sunday August 24, 2008)

Barton helps boost Redbirds past Braves

Photo: Brian Barton left the game in the sixth with a right oblique strain. (Jeff Roberson/AP)


Albert Pujols follows his two-run home run in the first inning. (Jeff Roberson/AP)



St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols follows through on a single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. Pujols hit a two-run homer and briefly took the lead in the NL batting race over the Braves' Chipper Jones, before falling back by less than a percentage point. The Cardinals won 6-3.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Braden Looper throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-3.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes throws during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. The St. Louis Cardinals won 6-3.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones can't come up with a ball hit just past his glove for a single by St. Louis Cardinals' Aaron Miles during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-3.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-3.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


St. Louis Cardinals' Brian Barton runs to first for a single, his third hit of the day, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. Barton left the game after the hit with an apparent injury, pointing to his side.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones, left, tries to score against St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina as home plate umpire Bill Miller, right, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. Jones was out on the play.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


Atlanta Braves first baseman Martin Prado dives into the crowd after a foul ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Ryan Ludwick during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis. Prado was unable to catch the ball.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brian Barton can't come up with a ball hit by Atlanta Braves' Jo-Jo Reyes for a two-run single during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols tosses his bat as he watches his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

[JackofDiamonds]

Wellemeyer was in line to win both of his starts this season versus Milwaukee, allowing two earned runs in 11 innings, only to see the St. Louis bullpen blow ninth-inning leads.

We'd be 1.5 gb of Milwaukee if we'd won both of those games. There are a lot of examples of this obviously, but it really hurts when you do it to the team you're fighting for the playoffs.

[cardsfansince82]

Sheets vs. Cards

Code: Select all

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP G_miss YR_miss
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Albert Pujols        71    68  26  5  0  4  11   2  14  .382  .394  .632 1.026   0   1   0   0   2                
 Yadier Molina        23    22   6  0  0  0   1   1   2  .273  .304  .273  .577   0   0   0   0   0                
 Cesar Izturis        22    22   2  0  0  0   2   0   4  .091  .091  .091  .182   0   0   0   0   1                
 Adam Kennedy         18    17   5  0  0  0   0   1   0  .294  .333  .294  .627   0   0   0   0   0                
 Aaron Miles          18    18   6  1  0  0   0   0   4  .333  .333  .389  .722   0   0   0   0   0                
 Jason LaRue          17    16   2  0  0  1   1   1   7  .125  .176  .313  .489   0   0   1   0   0                
 Skip Schumaker       10    10   2  0  0  0   1   0   0  .200  .200  .200  .400   0   0   0   0   0                
 Felipe Lopez          9     9   2  0  0  0   0   0   1  .222  .222  .222  .444   0   0   0   0   0                
 Rick Ankiel           6     6   2  0  0  0   1   0   0  .333  .333  .333  .666   0   0   0   0   1                
 Troy Glaus            6     5   0  0  0  0   0   1   2  .000  .167  .000  .167   0   0   0   0   0                
 Braden Looper         4     3   1  0  0  0   2   0   1  .333  .333  .333  .666   1   0   0   0   0                
 Ron Villone           4     4   0  0  0  0   0   0   3  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Ryan Ludwick          3     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   1  .000  .333  .000  .333   0   0   0   0   0                
 Joel Pineiro          3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   3  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Todd Wellemeyer       2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .500  .500  .500 1.000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Kyle McClellan        1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Total               217   208  55  6  0  5  19   7  43  .264  .287  .365  .652   1   1   1   0   4                

Welly vs. Crew

Code: Select all

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP G_miss YR_miss
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Bill Hall             9     8   0  0  0  0   0   1   3  .000  .111  .000  .111   0   0   0   0   1                
 Jason Kendall         8     6   1  1  0  0   1   2   0  .167  .375  .333  .708   0   0   0   0   0                
 Ray Durham            7     7   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .143  .143  .143  .286   0   0   0   0   0                
 Prince Fielder        7     6   3  0  0  0   0   1   1  .500  .571  .500 1.071   0   0   0   0   0                
 Ryan Braun            6     5   4  0  0  0   0   1   0  .800  .833  .800 1.633   0   0   0   0   0                
 Mike Cameron          6     5   0  0  0  0   0   1   2  .000  .167  .000  .167   0   0   0   0   0                
 Corey Hart            6     6   1  1  0  0   2   0   0  .167  .167  .333  .500   0   0   0   0   1                
 J.J. Hardy            5     5   2  0  0  0   0   0   0  .400  .400  .400  .800   0   0   0   0   0                
 Rickie Weeks          4     4   1  1  0  0   0   0   0  .250  .250  .500  .750   0   0   0   0   0                
 Gabe Kapler           2     1   0  0  0  0   0   1   0  .000  .500  .000  .500   0   0   0   0   0                
 Ben Sheets            2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Craig Counsell        1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Manny Parra           1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Jeff Suppan           1     1   1  0  0  0   0   0   0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000   0   0   0   0   0                
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Total                65    58  14  3  0  0   3   7   8  .241  .323  .293  .616   0   0   0   0   2                

[cardsfansince82]

We pretty much have to sweep these two games to have much chance, yes? If we drop both the season is pretty much over. Splitting doesn't do a whole lot either. As well as MIL is playing against everyone else it will be tough to make up more than a couple games the rest of the way with no more head to heads. Hopefully Welly is on his A game because Sheets isn't going to make things easy.

[Faceman]

Wow, that 4 game meltdown vs the Brewers is the season right now.

By the way, can we get someone to rebrand that image "Wild Card Showdown" ??

Certainly Cub fans are getting a good laugh at the fact the Cards/Brewers series is being listed as Central division showdown, since that is pretty much wrapped.

[Dillagii]

John Kruk is a moron. He was on Sportscenter as Baseball Analyst and he was asked which series he is looking forward to this week. He said Mil-Stl and went on and on and said if Mil sweeps this 3-game set they will be 6 1/2 games ahead of Stl and blah blah. You are a baseball analyst and you are ready to talk about the series, how hard is it to get the number of games played straight? Come on, it's your job.

[Radbird]

I smell sweep.

[JackofDiamonds]

I smell sweep.

Yeah, but I am waiting to find out who brought the brooms.

[pujols4mvp]

We got us a WW2 on our hands fellas two W's pitching and two wins. Looks good

[fanforever]

I thought getting swept at home against the Royals was worst