Lance Lynn Had To Have An Average Day Eventually, Nervous Fantasy Baseball Owners

Cardinals Vs. Braves Score Update: Cardinals Can't Avoid Sweep

The St. Louis Cardinals entered their series against the Atlanta Braves having won five straight and playing excellent baseball. However, the Cardinals seemed to hit a funk against the Braves, as the were swept by Atlanta after falling 7-4 in the series-finale. With the loss, St. Louis saw its home record fall to just, 8-7.

Despite receiving his first loss of the season, Lance Lynn pitched well for St. Louis. Lynn struck out seven batters over six innings. Unfortunately, Victor Marte really struggled in relief, allowing three earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Jason Heyward caused the St. Louis pitchers trouble throughout the game, driving in three runs on three hits.

Carlos Beltran continued his sensational start to the season, hitting his 13th home run of the season. Allen Craig hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to make the final result look better.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, check out Viva El Birdos. Atlanta Braves info can be found at Talking Chop, and all your MLB news is at Baseball Nation.

Braves Vs. Cardinals Score Update: St. Louis Trails 3-0 In The 6th

It's been a tough weekend so far for the St. Louis Cardinals -- they've already dropped two games to the Atlanta Braves and they're facing a 3-0 deficit in the sixth inning of the third game of the series. They've been able to muster very little offense against Braves starter Tommy Hanson, who has allowed just two hits in five innings of work.

Related: Chipper Jones Farewell Tour Finishes Its St. Louis Engagement

All of Atlanta's runs came in the third inning on a bases-clearing double by outfielder Jason Heyward. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn has allowed four hits to go with six strikeouts and three walks.

Rafael Furcal is the only St. Louis player with a base hit so far.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, check out Viva El Birdos. Atlanta Braves info can be found at Talking Chop, and all your MLB news is at Baseball Nation.

Lance Berkman Injury: Cardinals Activate Slugger For Sunday's Game

Lance Berkman is back in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup after being on the disabled list for nearly a month with a left calf injury.

Lange Berkman in the lineup for #STLCards today. Shane Robinson has been sent out.

— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) May 13, 2012

Berkman reportedly ran sprints in the outfield, fielded grounders at first base and took batting practice on Saturday without any discomfort to that injured calf. Since Berkman is returning to the 25-man lineup, the corresponding move is obviously Shane Robinson losing his spot.

"We were hopeful of having him [activated Friday], but he still didn't quite feel 100 percent," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said on Saturday. "But after what he's done today, all the feedback I'm getting has been very positive."

Read more about the Cardinals at Viva El Birdos. For additional news, analysis and updates around Major League Baseball, be sure to check our new MLB hub page Baseball Nation.

Braves Vs. Cardinals: Sunday Game Preview, TV Info And More

The St. Louis Cardinals are trying to avoid a sweep against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in the third of their three-game weekend series.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn has been just about perfect so far this season with a 6-0 record and 1.40 ERA. He's the first major league pitcher this season to get to six wins and a seventh on Sunday would make him the first in Cardinals history to win his first seven starts since 1920.

Here is a look at Sunday's lineups for both teams:

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Rafael Furcal (S) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) CF
3. Carlos Beltran (S) RF
4. Allen Craig (R) LF
5. Lance Berkman (S) 1B
6. David Freese (R) 3B
7. Daniel Descalso (L) 2B
8. Tony Cruz (R) C
9. Lance Lynn (R) P

Atlanta Braves

1. Michael Bourn (L) CF
2. Martin Prado (R) LF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
5. Jason Heyward (L) RF
6. Juan Francisco (L) 3B
7. David Ross (R) C
8. Tyler Pastornicky (R) SS
9. Tommy Hanson (R) P

Here is a look at the game schedule and broadcasting information:

Date/Time: Sunday, May 12, 1:15 p.m. CT

TV: Fox Sports Midwest, TBS

Online streaming: MLB.TV

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, check out Viva El Birdos. Atlanta Braves info can be found at Talking Chop, and all your MLB news is at Baseball Nation.

Chipper Jones Farewell Tour Finishes Its St. Louis Engagement

Adam Wainwright Watch: When Do We Worry?

Braves Vs. Cardinals Preview: Adam Wainwright Faces A Tough Test On Saturday

The St. Louis Cardinals dropped the opener of their three-game weekend series against the Atlanta Braves in extra innings, and now Adam Wainwright (2-3, 5.61 ERA) takes the mound on Saturday night as the Cards hope to avoid a losing streak. Wainwright might be returning to form after a rocky start to the season -- he pitched 7.0 innings and allowed just one run and struck out seven in his last outing on May 6 -- but he will have to do it against a high-powered Braves offense this time.

Atlanta will send Brandon Beachy (3-1, 1.62 ERA) to the mound, and he will get the biggest test of his young season against a Cardinals offense that ranks No. 2 in runs scored (181), No. 2 in batting average (.287), No. 1 in on-base percentage (.358) and No. 2 in slugging percentage (.474). Carlos Beltran has been especially hot, and is coming off a 4-5 night that featured two home runs, a triple, a double and four RBIs.

Here is the information you need to find the game on Saturday night:

Game Time: 6:15 p.m. CST, Saturday, May 12

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Broadcast: FSMW-HD (TV), KMOX (radio)

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Viva El Birdos and Talking Chop.

Cardinals Vs. Braves Recap: Atlanta Spoils Tony La Russa Ceremony, Pulls Out 9-7 Win In 12 Innings

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Carlos Beltran weaved a four-hit night on Friday, featuring two home runs, a triple, a double and four RBIs, but it wasn't enough to give the Cards an edge over the Atlanta Braves. St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia pitched 5.2 innings and have gave up nine hits and four earned runs, but the Cardinals hitters beat up on Braves starter Mike Minor to the tune of six earned runs and eight hits over 4.2 innings. The problems came in the bullpen, as Atlanta chipped away at the lead and eventually snatched away the 9-7 win on Jason Heyward's 12th-inning home run.

With the loss, St. Louis moved to 20-12 on the season, while Atlanta improved to 20-13 overall.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Viva El Birdos and Talking Chop.

Braves Vs. Cardinals Lineups: St. Louis Goes Without Lance Berkman For At Least 1 More Night

The St. Louis Cardinals open up a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night, though they'll be without Lance Berkman for another game after the organization decided against activating him earlier in the day. Here are the lineups for tonight's matchup:

St. Louis:

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

Related: Braves Vs. Cardinals Preview: St. Louis Looks For Fifth Straight Win

Atlanta:

Tonight's lineup (8:25, PTV/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 7 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 McCann 2 Jones 5 Heyward 9 Pastornicky 6 Minor 1

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 11, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Viva El Birdos and Talking Chop.

Tony La Russa Number Retirement Event To Be Richly Attended

On Friday night, the St. Louis Cardinals will retire the jersey number of former manager Tony La Russa. The long-time, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and Cardinals manager earned six pennants and three world series rings with Oakland and St. Louis.

According to MLB.com, the jersey retirement will feature not only a crowd of cheering Cardinals faithful, but also a few major names of the sport:

• Mike Shannon (master of ceremonies)
• Dennis Eckersley
• Dave Stewart
• Bob Welch
• Wally Haas
• Jerry Reinsdorf
• Roland Hemond
• Tom Seaver
• Joe Torre
• Bob Gibson
• Lou Brock
• Matt Morris
• David Eckstein
• Brian Jordan
• Jim Edmonds
• Andy Benes
• Alan Benes
• Walt Jocketty
• Dave Duncan
• Barry Weinberg
• Carole Buck (wife of the late Jack Buck)
• Red Schoendienst
• Greg Walker
• Scott Fletcher

The retirement will begin at 7:00 p.m. CDT with the game's first pitch coming at 7:25 p.m. CDT.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Viva El Birdos and Talking Chop.

Braves Vs. Cardinals Preview: St. Louis Looks For Fifth Straight Win

The St. Louis Cardinals open their first series of the 2012 season with the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.