The St. Louis Cardinals are 31-37 on June 19th, 2017. The Cardinals are 5.5 games out of first place, and in third place in the National League Central. St. Louis is tied for the 7th best record in the National League. The Cardinals head to Philadelphia for 3 and then host the Pirates for 3 over the weekend. Let’s take a look at the matchups:
Tuesday June 20th, 2017; 6:05pm CT @ Philadelphia Phillies
Mike Leake (5-6, 3.14) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (5-5, 4.91)
Notes: Leake has lost his last four starts.
Leake has allowed 14 earned runs so far in June.
Phillies batters are .316 career against Leake.
Hellickson is 0-2 in June.
Hellickson allowed 10 hits in 6 innings on June 9th against the Cardinals.
Aledmys Diaz is 3-5 with 2 HR lifetime against Hellickson.
Wednesday June 21st, 2017; 6:05pm CT @ Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Wacha (3-3, 4.78) vs. Nick Pivetta (1-3, 4.46)
Notes: Wacha lasted just 4 innings in his last start.
Wacha has struggled against Howie Kendrick. He is 6-10 career with a HR.
Pivetta went 5 innings on June 10th in St. Louis and took the loss.
Pivotta is coming off a strong outing against Boston, where he took a ND.
Thursday June 22nd, 2017; 12:05pm CT @ Philadelphia Phillies
Carlos Martinez (6-5, 2.86) vs. Aaron Nola (3-5, 4.76)
Notes: Martinez has won two straight starts, allowing just 1R in 15 IP.
Martinez has 8 or more K’s in each of his last 5 starts.
Martinez threw a complete game shut-out on June 10th against Phillies.
Nola took a loss on June 11th in St. Louis, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings.
Dexter Fowler is 3-5, 2HR lifetime against Nola.
Friday June 23rd, 2017; 7:15pm CT w/ Pittsburgh Pirates
Adam Wainwright (7-5, 5.75) vs. Jamison Taillon (3-2, 3.38)
Notes: Wainwright retired just 5 batters in a loss to the Orioles.
Wainwright has allowed 20 runs in his last 3 starts.
Andrew McCutchen has 2 career HR against Wainwright.
Taillon missed a month after having testicular surgery.
Taillon is coming off a loss to the Cubs on June 18th.
Saturday June 24th, 2017; 6:15pm CT w/ Pittsburgh Pirates
Lance Lynn (5-4, 3.33) vs. Gerrit Cole (4-6, 4.54)
Notes: Lynn is coming off his worst outing of the season, allowing 7 runs in 4.2 innings.
Lynn has struck out 76 batters in 78.1 innings in 2017.
Cole went 7 strong innings on June 13th against Colorado, allowing just 3 hits.
Cole is seeing opponents bat .268 against him this season.
Sunday June 25th, 2017; 7:00pm CT w/ Pittsburgh Pirates
Mike Leake (5-6, 3.14) vs. Chad Kuhl (1-6, 5.61)
Notes: This is the Sunday Night Baseball Game of the Week.
Kuhl has not a won a start since April 8th against the Braves.
Kuhl went 6 innings against the Cardinals, on April 18th, allowing just 2 runs in 6IP.
