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Cardinals-Phillies Preview

Jul 26, 2009 - 2:11 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

St. Louis (53-46) at Philadelphia (54-40), 1:35 p.m. EDT

To strengthen their pennant drive, the St. Louis Cardinals added a big bat, making the heart of their lineup extremely dangerous. Despite that key addition, the Philadelphia Phillies would likely contend that they still have one of the most feared lineups in the majors.

Following another impressive offensive outburst, the NL East-leading Phillies seek their 17th win in 20 games Sunday when they wrap up a three-game set against the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

St. Louis (53-47) got some needed protection in the lineup for slugger Albert Pujols by acquiring three-time All-Star Matt Holliday from Oakland on Friday. With Holliday batting cleanup, opponents will likely think twice about pitching around Pujols in the third spot.

The new-look offense clicked in Friday's series opener with Holliday getting four hits in an 8-1 win, but it couldn't keep up with Philadelphia's lineup Saturday in a 14-6 loss.

Jimmy Rollins hit a go-ahead grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs while Shane Victorino went 4 for 4 with a homer for the Phillies (55-40), who are a major league-best 16-3 since July 3.

Led by a formidable offense that also features All-Stars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth, Philadelphia has scored an NL-best 518 runs. Rollins has been instrumental to the Phillies' recent success, batting .341 with 16 RBIs this month after hitting .207 with 27 RBIs over the first three.

"He's driving the ball," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "He hits with a short, explosive swing. Right now he's swinging much better."

While the Phillies are aiming for a third straight division title, the Cardinals have lost four of six and could drop out of first place in the Central for the first time since July 5 with a loss in the finale, coupled with a Chicago Cubs win over Cincinnati.

It could be difficult for St. Louis to produce much offense Sunday with the way Philadelphia's Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.24 ERA) has been pitching lately.

Blanton has yielded two runs and 13 hits in 21 2-3 innings in three starts this month and is 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA in his last 10 outings. In Tuesday's 4-1, 13-inning win over the Cubs, the right-hander allowed one run and five hits in seven innings.

"It's a little more quality pitches, maybe," Blanton told the Phillies' official Web site. "Maybe my changeup has come around lately. My sinker is down instead of flat and over the plate, and that always helps. Other than that, I'm just trying to pitch."

Blanton has been very good in winning both of his career starts against the Cardinals, allowing one run and eight hits over 13 innings.

St. Louis counters with the inconsistent Todd Wellemeyer (7-8, 5.68), who again tries to get his season back on track.

After going 4-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six May starts, Wellemeyer is 2-4 with a 6.51 ERA in his last nine. The right-hander gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings of Tuesday's 11-6 loss to Houston, the third time in four starts he failed to go at least five innings.

This will be his first start of the season against the Phillies after going 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA in two games against them in 2008.