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Marlins-Cardinals Preview

Sep 14, 2009 - 3:30 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Florida (76-66) at St. Louis (84-59), 8:15 p.m. EDT

Although they're mired in a bit of a funk, a postseason berth looks imminent for the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.

The final three weeks of the regular season appears to be far more critical for the Florida Marlins, who are making a late push for the playoffs.

The Marlins look to bounce back from a tough loss seek their ninth win in 12 games Monday night when they open a three-game series against the Cardinals, who will try to avoid their first four-game skid in more than three months.

With 19 games remaining, Florida (76-67) trails wild-card leading Colorado by 5 1/2 games. The Marlins are also 6 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East.

Florida has won eight of its last 11 games, but is coming off Sunday's 7-2 loss to major league-worst Washington. The game was called after a 53-minute rain delay in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Marlins haven't had much luck lately against the Cardinals, losing two of three in June and dropping six of the last eight at Busch Stadium, but they hope to take advantage of a slumping St. Louis club.

The Cardinals (84-60) open this series after being swept in a three-game set by Atlanta, but still own a 9 1/2-game lead atop the division with 18 left to play.

St. Louis, which hasn't lost four in a row since a five-game skid from June 5-9, dropped Sunday's finale to Atlanta 9-2 and scored eight runs in the series.

"Our bats didn't show up," leadoff hitter Skip Schumaker told the Cardinals' official Web site.

Albert Pujols is a top candidate to win his third NL MVP award, but he also can take some of the blame for the offensive struggles.

Pujols is hitting .327 with a major league-leading 47 homers and 124 RBIs, yet he's just 2 for 12 with no RBIs during the losing streak. The eight-time All-Star was batting .591 with five home runs, 11 RBIs and a .654 on-base percentage in his previous seven games.

While Pujols is struggling, he's had little trouble at home against the Marlins, batting .300 with five homers, three doubles and nine RBIs in the last eight meetings. He's also 4 for 10 with a homer and two doubles lifetime against Ricky Nolasco (11-8, 5.23 ERA), who takes the ball for Florida in the opener.

Nolasco allowed three runs - all in his final inning of work - and four hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-3 win over New York on Wednesday, improving to 3-0 with a 4.35 ERA in his last five starts.

This will be the right-hander's first start of the season against the Cardinals after recording a 2.08 ERA in two starts without a decision against them a year ago.

St. Louis counters with Todd Wellemeyer (7-9, 5.62), who gets the call in place of the injured John Smoltz (shoulder tendinitis).

Wellemeyer opened the year in the rotation, but was sent to the bullpen after going 7-9 with a 5.81 ERA in 20 starts. The right-hander hasn't made a start since getting tagged for seven runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 9-2 loss to Philadelphia on July 26.

Wellemeyer, who pitched for Florida in 2006, allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings of a 6-5 win over his former team June 11, but didn't receive a decision.