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Cardinals, Astros series lacks drama

Sep 20, 2007 - 1:35 PM Houston (66-86) at St Louis (71-80) 8:10 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - A September series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros is usually full of playoff implications. Not this season.

Braden Looper and the Cardinals host the Astros in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday.

The Cardinals are the defending World Series champions, while the Astros lost the World Series in 2005. However, both are mere bystanders as the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers battle for the National League Central Division title.

Yadier Molina hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning as the Cardinals posted a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies to salvage the finale of a three-game series Wednesday.

St. Louis, which has lost 11 of 13, will turn to Looper (12-10, 4.55 ERA) to get the ball rolling. The converted reliever is unbeaten in his last five starts, and is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts against Houston this season.

Wandy Rodriguez (8-13, 4.83) takes the hill for Houston, which posted a 5-4 10-inning win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. Hunter Pence provide the winning margin with a walk-off single.

Rodriguez has been horrible on the road this season, going 2-10 with a 7.31 ERA in 14 starts. On Saturday, the lefthander allowed five runs and five hits in three innings, but did not receive a decision in a 9-7 loss to Pittsburgh.

To make matters worse, Rodriguez has never beaten the Cardinals, going 0-4 with a 8.71 ERA against them in five appearances - four starts.