Chris Carpenter (5-7, 3.69) vs. Paul Maholm (6-9, 3.06)
Jaime Garcia (9-4, 3.11) vs. Kevin Correia (11-7, 4.04)
Kyle Lohse (8-7, 3.45) vs. Charlie Morton (8-5, 3.62)
Since the break, the Pirates are 4-2, scoring 3.17 runs per game and surrendering 2.33 runs per game. The pitching has been outstanding but the offense has struggled quite a bit, especially in their last 3 games when they scored just 4 runs against the Reds.
The Cardinals are 2-4 since the break after dropping 2 of 3 to the Reds and Mets. They are scoring 3.83 runs per game and allowing 3.67 runs per game.
Albert Pujols has absolutely destroyed the Pirates in his career. He has a career .372 average against the Pirates with 45 homers and 136 RBI in 159 games. In PNC Park, he's hitting .387 with 26 dingers. So, if he played the Pirates every game, he would win the MVP award and the triple crown every year. The somewhat good news is that he is having one of the worst seasons you will ever see from him. Prince Albert is hitting .272/.345/.505, it's ridiculous to say that that line is bad, but it's just not up to snuff for this guy. This month he's hitting .233/.277/.535 with 4 homers and 12 RBI. The Pirates seem to be getting him at the right time, but I'm not sure if it even matters with a player of this level. If Pujols hits 4 homers this series and sweeps the Pirates by himself, I won't be surprised.
Neil Walker has been carrying the offensive load for the Pirates this month, and is basically doing it all by himself. He is hitting a ridiculous .407/.429/.559 this month with 4 doubles, a triple, and a homer. That's in the absence of Andrew McCutchen's usual performance, as he has just 2 hits in his last 5 games and his hitting .179 since the all-star break. This would be a great series for him to get going.
Batters vs. Pitcher:
Current Pirates vs. Carpenter:
Lyle Overbay: 6/15 (.400), 3 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Andrew McCutchen: 3/14 (.214), 1 2B
Garrett Jones: 4/12 (.333), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K
Neil Walker: 3/7 (.429), 1 HR, 2 K
Matt Diaz: 1/2 (.500)
Current Cardinals vs. Maholm:
Albert Pujols: 19/33 (.576), 6 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 1 K
Lance Berkman: 5/31 (.161), 4 BB, 3 K
Ryan Theriot: 11/29 (.379), 5 2B, 4 BB, 2 K
Yadier Molina: 5/24 (.208), 4 BB, 2 K
Matt Holliday: 3/19 (.158), 2 BB, 3 K
Colby Rasmus: 0/6 (.000), 1 K
Current Pirates vs. Garcia:
Matt Diaz: 1/3 (.333), 2 K
Garrett Jones: 0/3 (.000), 2 K
Andrew McCutchen: 2/3 (.667), 2 2B
Lyle Overbay: 0/2 (.000)
Xavier Paul: 0/1 (.000)
Current Cardinals vs. Correia:
Matt Holliday: 7/27 (.259), 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 K
Albert Pujols: 5/15 (.333), 1 2B, 5 BB, 4 K
Yadier Molina: 2/12 (.167), 2 BB, 1 K
Skip Schumaker: 6/13 (.462), 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
Ryan Theriot: 5/11 (.455), 3 BB
Lance Berkman: 2/9 (.222), 2 2B, 4 BB, 1 K
Colby Rasmus: 1/7 (.143), 1 HR, 2 BB
Current Pirates vs. Lohse:
Andrew McCutchen: 5/12 (.417), 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 K
Garrett Jones: 3/10 (.333), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB
Neil Walker: 4/9 (.444), 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 2 K
Lyle Overbay: 3/9 (.333), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Matt Diaz: 1/7 (.143), 1 2B, 2 K
Current Cardinals vs. Morton:
Albert Pujols: 4/13 (.308), 1 2B, 3 BB, 1 K
Skip Schumaker: 7/14 (.500), 1 2B, 2 BB
Ryan Theriot: 5/12 (.417), 1 BB, 2 K
Colby Rasmus: 5/11 (.455), 1 BB, 1 K
Lance Berkman: 5/7 (.714), 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 1 K
Matt Holliday: 4/9 (.444), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 K
Yadier Molina: 4/8 (.500), 1 2B, 1 HR
Again, a huge series for the Pirates. Let's hope the hot pitching keeps up and the offense starts turning a corner. Let's Go Bucs.