Lance Berkman Injury Update: Cardinals Slugger Does Not 'Have Any Bat Speed'

According to his own admission, 1B Lance Berkman is struggling. In a recent talk with the media, Berkman said his timing and vision were where they needed to be, but that his bat was just not moving at the right pace:

"The fact is I feel great in terms of how I'm seeing the ball," Berkman said. "I'm not swinging at many bad pitches. I feel like my timing is good. What's lacking is bat speed. I just don't have any bat speed right now."

The 36-year-old Berkman is hitting an impressive .275/.393/.471 in the 2012 season, despite sporting only 1 home run. He hit 31 homers in 2011 season, a comeback year for him, in which he helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series victory.

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers Final Score: Early Errors Lead To 4-3 Defeat

Errors on defense are always frustrating, but they proved to be particularly costly on Wednesday for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal made a pair of painful errors in the first inning of Wednesday's game, allowing Milwaukee to take a lead that it would never relinquish.

The Cardinals' defense was shaky from the beginning on Wednesday, as Brewers lead-off hitter Norichika Aoki reached base on a fielding error from Furcal. The Cardinals' shortstop would only compound that issue later in the inning with Milwaukee already leading 2-0, when a two-out throwing error would allow two additional runs to score.

Trailing 4-0 early, the Cardinals needed a quality performance from their offense, but they didn't get it on Wednesday despite facing struggling young starter Tyler Thornburg. Thornburg managed to allow just two runs over 4.2 innings, at which point the bullpen came in and finished off the remainder of the game.

St. Louis really threatened in the top of the ninth inning, but Francisco Rodriguez managed to end the scare before blowing the lead. K-Rod gave up a bases loaded walk with two outs in the ninth to cut Milwaukee's lead to a single run, but he got Lance Berkman to fly out for the game's final out.

Beyond the Cardinals' late rally in the ninth inning, the team's first two runs were scored on a pair of solo homers from David Freese and Allen Craig.

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Trevor Rosenthal Hits 100, Strikes Out Two In St. Louis Cardinals Debut

Cardinals Vs. Brewers Lineups: Carlos Beltran Gets Day Off On Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran is getting the day off as the team faces the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park. The two teams split the first two games of the three-game series, which each game being decided by just a single run.

At the moment, it appears that Beltran is simply getting a standard day off given the early start time for Wednesday's game. After being plagued by injuries in 2009 and 2010, he appeared in 142 games last season, and has been similarly healthy in 2012.

Here's the Cardinals' full lineup:

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Jon Jay (CF)
3. Allen Craig (RF)
4. David Freese (3B)
5. Lance Berkman (1B)
6. Yadier Molina (C)
7. Matt Carpenter (LF)
8. Skip Schumaker (2B)
9. Adam Wainwright (SP)

And the Brewers' lineup:

1. Norichika Aoki (RF)
2. Nyjer Morgan (LF)
3. Aramis Ramirez (3B)
4. Corey Hart (1B)
5. Rickie Weeks (2B)
6. Martin Maldonado (C)
7. Carlos Gomez (CF)
8. Jeff Bianchi (SS)
9. Tyler Thornburg (SP)

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers Preview: Wainwright Takes The Hill On Wednesday

The St. Louis Cardinals have lost four of five games since returning from the All-Star Break, but they can take the series from the Milwaukee Brewers with a win today at Miller Park. The Cardinals will also be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss on Tuesday night that saw them fail to even tie the game in the ninth inning after getting the winning run in scoring position with no outs.

On the hill for the Cardinals will be Adam Wainwright, whose second half got off to a so-so start in Cincinnati over the weekend. In that start on July 13, Wainwright pitched 6.1 innings, but gave up four earned runs on five hits. He'll be opposed by Brewers rookie Tyler Thornburg, who has given up six earned runs in 7.1 innings for Milwaukee this season.

Game date/time: Thursday, July 18, 1:10 p.m. CT

Location: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisc.

TV: FSN Midwest

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers Final Score: St. Louis' Bats Go Quiet Late In 3-2 Loss

The St. Louis Cardinals managed 10 hits but only two runs on Tuesday night during a 3-2 loss to the division rival Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. St. Louis starter Joe Kelly was the hard luck loser, falling to 1-2 on the season after throwing six innings and allowing six hits and two earned runs. The loss drops the Cards to 47-44 on the year, while Milwaukee moves to 43-47.

Rickie Weeks' solo homer in the fourth inning that broke a 2-2 tie proved to be the decisive swing of the game. It was the ninth long ball of the year for the second baseman, and his only hit of the night. Third baseman David Freese went 3-for-4 for St. Louis with a double. Carlos Beltran drove in his 66th run of the season with a sacrifice fly in the third for the Cards.

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Francisco Rodriguez Replaces John Axford As Brewers Closer After Cardinals Comeback

The St. Louis Cardinals' 3-2 Monday night victory over the Milwaukee Brewers could be a turning point in the Cardinals' rocky 2012 season, but it's definitely the start of something different for the Brewers--they'll be replacing snakebitten closer John Axford, who blew the save on Matt Holliday's ground-ball single, with Francisco Rodriguez, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

For K-Rod, who went from 34 saves with the Mets to the Brewers' set-up man in 2011, it's a chance to return to the pace that gave him a chance to set the all-time saves record; for the Brewers, it's a chance to figure out what ails Axford, who was dominant in 2011 but has struggled with control and command in 2012.

Axford, who saved 46 games last year, has walked 21 batters and allowed six home runs in 37 innings, but his case hasn't been helped by a BAbip of .344. He'll get every chance to work his way back into high leverage innings, but Rodriguez, who's rarely anything less than cromulent as a reliever, will be hard to dislodge if he stabilizes the Brewers' beleaguered bullpen even temporarily.

Cardinals Vs. Brewers Lineups: Allen Craig Batting 2nd, Carlos Beltran Starting In CF

Carlos Beltran will make just his third start in center field this season when the the Cardinals face the Brewers on Tuesday night. Tyler Greene is also making just his third start in the month of July. Full lineups for Tuesday's game are listed below.

St. Louis:

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Allen Craig (1B)
3. Matt Holliday (LF)
4. Carlos Beltran (CF)
5. David Freese (3B)
6. Yadier Molina (C)
7. Matt Carpenter (RF)
8. Tyler Greene (2B)
9. Joe Kelly (SP)

Related: Boog Would've (Made Matt Holliday Unclutch All Over Again)

Milwaukee:

1. Norichika Aoki (L) RF
2. Carlos Gomez (R) CF
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
5. Corey Hart (R) 1B
6. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
7. George Kottaras (L) C
8. Cesar Izturis (S) SS
9. Randy Wolf (L) P

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Cardinals GM Says Trevor Rosenthal's Promotion Was Best Internal Option Available To St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals called up 22-year-old pitching prospect Trevor Rosenthal from Double-A Springfield on Monday, but Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak doesn't want fans to think it's a panic move for the bullpen. Rosenthal posted the second-best ERA in the Texas League (2.78 ERA) over his 94.0 innings of work, and he also racked up the fifth-highest strikeout total in the league (83 strikeouts) while walking just 37 batters. For Mozeliak, that simply made Rosenthal the best internal option, as he told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"Clearly we're still developing roles and trying to get things to become more successful. When you look at our internal options, we thought most about giving Rosenthal a chance."

When Rosenthal takes the mound for the Cardinals it will be his MLB debut. Back in February, ESPN's Keith Law ranked Rosenthal as the team's No. 7 overall prospect and fifth-best pitching prospect in the organization.

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers Preview: Can Joe Kelly Continue His Strong Pitching On Tuesday?

The St. Louis Cardinals broke a three-game skid by completing a ninth-inning comeback against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night, but they are hoping things go a bit more smoothly on Tuesday night. St. Louis starter Joe Kelly (1-1, 2.70 ERA) has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last six appearances, so if he can keep up that level of play the Cardinals should be in good shape.

Kelly will start opposite Brewers veteran hurler Randy Wolf (2-6, 5.80 ERA), who is 0-4 in his last 12 starts.

TV: FOX Sports Midwest

Game Time: 7:10 p.m. CT

Location: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers Final Score: St. Louis Rallies In 9th Inning To Defeat Milwaukee

The St. Louis Cardinals trailed 2-0 in the top of the ninth inning to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night, but a timely offensive outburst gave St. Louis its fourth win in a row, a 3-2 victory at Miller Park in the series opener. The win moves St. Louis to 47-43 on the season, while Milwaukee falls to 42-47 on the year.

Matt Holliday singled to right to score teammates Matt Carpenter and Rafael Furcal to finally get St. Louis on the board in the ninth. Allen Craig would add a single to single to left to score Skip Schumaker to put the Cards on top. Jason Motte picked up the victory, improving to 4-3.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn went seven innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out 10 and walking no one. Michael Fiers, Milwaukee's 27-year old starter, allowed only four hits over seven innings. The Brewers scored one in the seventh and one in the eighth. Cory Hart hit his 17th homer of the season, a solo shot in the seventh, to get scoring started. Ryan Braun would double for Milwaukee in the eighth to score right fielder Norichika Aoki.

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers Lineups: Aoki Leading Off Against Lance Lynn

The St. Louis Cardinals (46-43) take on the Milwaukee Brewers (42-46) in an NL Central matchup that features two teams looking to regain their stride from 2011.

Last season, the Brewer managed to win the Central with a record of 96-66 while the Cards took the Wild Card -- and eventually the World Series -- with a mark of 90-72. On Monday's series opener, the Cardinals will send right SP Lance Lynn against a right-handed-heavy Brewers lineup. The Brewers' one lefty in the lineup is leading off -- 30-year-old rookie RF Norichika Aoki, playing in his first season in America after an All-Star career in Japan.

Here is a look at the full lineups for Monday night's game, courtesy of Baseball Press:

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers: Zack Greinke Scratched From Wednesday Start

The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday morning that pitcher Zack Greinke has been scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Starting in his place will be rookie Tyler Thornburg, who has given up six earned runs in 7.1 innings across two games this season. In his first career start on June 19 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays, Thornburg gave up five earned runs in 5.1 innings, including four home runs.

#Brewers GM Melvin: Nothing physically wrong with Greinke. Just pushing him back, "recharging his batteries."

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 16, 2012

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Cardinals Will Call Up Pitching Prospect Trevor Rosenthal

The St. Louis Cardinals will call up top pitching prospect Trevor Rosenthal and place him in the team's bullpen, according to a late Sunday report.

If you missed it last night, sources say Cardinals plan to promote Double-A pitcher Trevor Rosenthal to big league bullpen today.

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) July 16, 2012

Rosenthal is likely seen as a starting pitcher in the long-term, but it's not uncommon for teams to use prospects as high-impact relievers out of the bullpen. In February, ESPN's Keith Law ranked Rosenthal as the team's No. 7 overall prospect and fifth best pitching prospect.

Rosenthal, a native of Lee's Summit, Mo., has a 2.78 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 17 starts in Double-A this season. He's struck out 83 batters in 94 innings, though his strikeout rate might tick up a bit as he maximizes his stamina coming out of the bullpen.

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Cardinals Vs. Brewers: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Lance Lynn will try to get St. Louis back on track against Milwaukee at Miller Park on Monday night.