At 10-5 and first place in the NL Central, not much could put a damper on the good feelings of the St. Louis Cardinals' hot start, but that's not to say that a series loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates wouldn't be a disappointing way to end the weekend. The Cardinals took the first game of the series by the score of 4-1 but were shut down by A.J. Burnett and the Pirates bullpen yesterday in a 2-0 loss.
Taking the hill for the Cardinals as they look to win their fifth straight series of the season is Kyle Lohse, who has been spectacular this season for the Redbirds. In three starts this year Lohse has pitched 20.1 innings and only given up two earned runs, which is good for a 0.89 ERA. He's also struck out 11 batters and walked only two.
On the mound for the Pirates will be Eric Bedard, the oft-injured lefty who will be healthy on Sunday, and thus dangerous. Bedard is 0-3 on the season, but his 2.65 ERA is a much truer indicator of how he has pitched this season. If there's been any blemish on Bedard's small resume as a member of the Pirates, it's that he's only pitched past the fifth inning in one of his three starts.
Game date/time: Sunday, April 22, 12:35 p.m. CT
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Penn.
TV: FSN Midwest
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more coverage, check out SB Nation's Cardinals and Pirates blogs, Viva El Birdos and Bucs Dugout. News and notes from around Major League Baseball can be found on Baseball Nation.
At 10-5 and first place in the NL Central, not much could put a damper on the good feelings of the St. Louis Cardinals' hot start, but that's not to say that a series loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates wouldn't be a disappointing way to end the weekend. The Cardinals took the first game of the series by the score of 4-1 but were shut down by A.J. Burnett and the Pirates bullpen yesterday in a 2-0 loss.
Taking the hill for the Cardinals as they look to win their fifth straight series of the season is Kyle Lohse, who has been spectacular this season for the Redbirds. In three starts this year Lohse has pitched 20.1 innings and only given up two earned runs, which is good for a 0.89 ERA. He's also struck out 11 batters and walked only two.
On the mound for the Pirates will be Eric Bedard, the oft-injured lefty who will be healthy on Sunday, and thus dangerous. Bedard is 0-3 on the season, but his 2.65 ERA is a much truer indicator of how he has pitched this season. If there's been any blemish on Bedard's small resume as a member of the Pirates, it's that he's only pitched past the fifth inning in one of his three starts.
Game date/time: Sunday, April 22, 12:35 p.m. CT
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Penn.
TV: FSN Midwest
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more coverage, check out SB Nation's Cardinals and Pirates blogs, Viva El Birdos and Bucs Dugout. News and notes from around Major League Baseball can be found on Baseball Nation.