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Furcal returns when Dodgers meet streaking Cardinals

May 23, 2008 - 2:30 PM St. Louis (28-21) at LA Dodgers (25-21) 10:40 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - Rafael Furcal is expected to make his return to the lineup Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals.

Furcal, who leads the Dodgers with a .366 batting average, five homers and 34 runs scored, has been out since May 6 with a lower back strain.

Los Angeles dropped five of the first six games played without its leadoff hitter, but has recovered to win six of its last eight. The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday with a 5-2 victory as Japanese righthander Hiroki Kuroda earned his first win since April 4.

The Cardinals enter this weekend's series hot as well, having won four of their last five games, including an 11-3 thrashing of the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick have keyed the St. Louis offensive attack, combining for seven homers and 14 RBI over the past five contests.

Pujols and Ludwick will take their swings against veteran sinkerballer Derek Lowe (2-4, 5.34 ERA) on Friday. Lowe got hammered in his last start, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in five innings, to suffer the loss during Sunday's 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The righthander, who was starting on three day's rest against the Angels because ace Brad Penny was scratched from a scheduled outing with stiffness in his pitching arm, has held Pujols and Ludwick to a combined 5-for-19 with one double in his career.

St. Louis will counter with righthander Adam Wainwright (3-2, 3.25). The Cardinals' ace has been terrible in his last two starts, surrendering 12 runs - 10 earned - and 20 hits in 11 2/3 combined innings.