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Sheets looks to slow down Cardinals

Apr 13, 2007 - 4:07 PM Milwaukee (5-4) at St Louis (5-4) 8:10 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Ben Sheets' luck against the St. Louis Cardinals will have to change if the Milwaukee Brewers are to win their third consecutive game.

Sheets makes his third start of the season Friday when the Brewers visit the Cardinals.

The Brewers' ace, Sheets is just 4-13 with a 4.04 ERA in 21 career starts against the Cardinals, including an 0-2 record in three starts last season.

Sheets (1-1, 3.60 ERA) struggled in his last start, a 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The righthander allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings.

The Cardinals, who have won three consecutive games, send Anthony Reyes (0-1, 5.40) to the mound. In his first start this season, Reyes pitched five innings and allowed three runs in a 5-1 loss to Houston.

Cardinals All-Star Albert Pujols has one home run and is batting just .176 (6-for-34) to start the season. However, Pujols has enjoyed success against Brewers and Sheets in particular. Pujols is batting .393 (22-for-56) with three home runs against Sheets and has a career batting average of .342 with 21 home runs against Milwaukee pitching.