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Cubs-Cardinals Preview

Aug 15, 2010 - 12:53 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Chicago (48-68) at St. Louis (65-49), 2:15 p.m. EDT

Tony La Russa should no longer feel helpless.

Following a two-game suspension, La Russa returns to the dugout as the Cardinals conclude a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

La Russa drew the ban for his actions in a bench-clearing brawl during Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Reds. St. Louis (65-50) is battling Cincinnati for the NL Central lead

The Cardinals won their first game without the four-time manager of the year, beating the Cubs 6-3 on Friday before falling 3-2 on Saturday. Chris Carpenter was outpitched by Carlos Zambrano, who picked up his first win since being banished for a dugout tantrum in June.

"You just don't feel like you're part of it, other than a fan," said La Russa, who watched the games from a private box. "You've got a helpless feeling but it makes it look a lot easier from up there than it is from on the field."

The Cardinals are second in the majors with a 39-19 home record, but have dropped three of their last five at Busch Stadium while posting a 6.60 ERA.

Another return could also be key for St. Louis, as Kyle Lohse (1-4, 5.89 ERA) is slated to pitch in his first game since a 10-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 22. The right-hander is returning from a strained forearm that landed him on the disabled list May 27.

Lohse went 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four rehabilitation starts, and his most recent outing for Triple-A Memphis was enough to convince St. Louis to give him the ball. He allowed one run and three hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings while getting the victory Tuesday against Reno.

"His performance when he pitched was impressive to everybody that watched him and reported on him," La Russa told the team's official website.

Lohse, though, is 1-3 with a 5.59 ERA in nine starts versus the Cubs (49-68). He hasn't beaten Chicago since April 15, 2007 while with the Reds.

The Cubs are trying to win consecutive games for the first time since July 23-24 against St. Louis. They've dropped 15 of 19 since and are fifth in the division.

Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.66), who will take the mound for Chicago, has been a rare bright spot. He'll try to win a third consecutive start, but wouldn't mind some help from his teammates.

The right-hander, currently tied with Carlos Silva for the team lead in victories, has won his last two starts while allowing one earned run in 12 2-3 innings. However, he's also given up six unearned runs as Chicago has committed seven errors.

The trend continued Tuesday, as Dempster yielded four runs - one earned - in 6 2-3 innings of an 8-6 win at San Francisco.

"The reality is we don't have a lot of games left and the games we are playing still mean something in the standings and they mean something to your pride," Dempster told the team's official website. "You go out there and play as hard as you can."

Dempster is 0-2 with a 4.20 ERA in his last six starts against the Cardinals. He hasn't received much help in his last four games at St. Louis, going 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA while getting seven total runs of support.