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Dodgers-Cardinals Preview

Jul 29, 2009 - 5:52 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Los Angeles (62-37) at St. Louis (54-48), 8:15 p.m. EDT

Every team in the majors has lost at least three straight games this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers can be proud that they were the final club to experience a three-game skid.

With their offense struggling in the first two games of this four-game series, the Dodgers hope to break out Wednesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals in a matchup of division leaders.

Los Angeles (62-38) fell at home to Florida on Sunday before opening a seven-game road trip with a 6-1 loss in Monday's series opener. The Dodgers were again shut down by the Cardinals (55-48) on Tuesday, losing 10-0 as Adam Wainwright moved into a tie for the major league lead with his 12th victory.

The three-game skid is the longest for the Dodgers since an eight-game slide Aug. 22-29. They went a franchise-record 99 games without losing three in a row before falling in their 100th contest, shattering the previous mark of 73 games set in 1965.

"We've won a lot of close games, but to go this long only losing two in a row is pretty unusual," manager Joe Torre said. "But we have to get ourselves righted right now."

Los Angeles is 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position in this series, scoring one run on 20 hits in the last two games. The Dodgers have lost 16 of 19 in St. Louis since the start of the 2004 season.

St. Louis, meanwhile, has had no trouble delivering with runners in scoring position in this series, going 9 for 20.

Ryan Ludwick's bases-loaded single keyed a six-run sixth Tuesday, and Mark DeRosa added a three-run homer in the eighth, his sixth in 14 games.

"I don't know if it was the key blow but it was a big hit," Ludwick said. "I'm just trying to do my job."

Most encouraging for the Cardinals is their production without a contribution from Albert Pujols. The slugging first baseman is 1 for 7 with three walks in the series and 10 for 42 (.238) since the All-Star break with two homers and two RBIs - both in the first game back.

Matt Holliday went 1 for 3 Tuesday and is 9 for 17 (.529) with five doubles and four runs scored in five games since joining St. Louis.

Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 2.96 ERA) looks to help the Dodgers get back into the win column. The 21-year-old left-hander has quickly developed into one of the game's best pitchers, one reason why his name often surfaces in trade rumors.

Kershaw, who hasn't lost since June 10, failed to win his fourth straight start and sixth consecutive decision despite another strong performance Friday in his team's 6-3 loss to Florida. He allowed three runs and a season-high nine hits over six innings while walking three and striking out six.

In two starts against the Cardinals - both last season - Kershaw is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA.

Joel Pineiro (9-9, 2.95) has been outstanding lately for St. Louis. He won his third straight start with an 8-1 victory at Philadelphia on Friday, scattering four hits in six scoreless innings. The right-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in nine consecutive starts while posting a 1.24 ERA in his last four outings.

The Cardinals have scored 21 runs in Pineiro's nine losses and he's only 4-4 in eight home starts despite a 2.40 ERA.

Pineiro is 2-0 with a 4.73 ERA in two starts versus the Dodgers. He should be particularly careful with Manny Ramirez, who is 13 for 29 (.448) with four homers against him.