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The St. Louis Cardinals head out west to begin a crucial four-game series on Thursday with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the two teams jostle for National League Wild Card positioning.
St. Louis currently holds a one-game lead over Los Angeles in the Wild Card standings, but both teams enter this series struggling of late. In addition to each side carrying three-game losing skids into Thursday's contest, the Cardinals have gone 3-7 in their last ten games overall, with the Dodgers only a game better in their previous ten at 4-6.
Los Angeles leads the season series, 4-3, including a sweep in St. Louis in late-May, but the Cardinals have won the last three contests, coming in a four-game series towards the end of July in Los Angeles.
The starting pitchers for Thursday are slated to be Lance Lynn (14-7, 4.04 ERA) for St. Louis and recent acquisition Josh Beckett (6-13, 5.05 ERA) for the Dodgers.
Game time is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. CT at Dodger Stadium, and the game will be televised in St. Louis on Fox Sports Midwest.
For more coverage of the Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, and for Dodgers news and updates, check out True Blue LA. For all your St. Louis sports news, stay updated at SB Nation St. Louis.