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Struggling Cardinals head to Pittsburgh

Jul 11, 2008 - 10:09 AM St. Louis (51-42) at Pittsburgh (43-48) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals will be attempting to find some offense Friday when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the start of a three-game series.

The Cardinals' top competitors in the National League Central - the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers - each made news this week by adding big-name starting pitchers to go along with their strong offenses. Rich Harden went to the Cubs and CC Sabathia to the Brewers, but the Cardinals have stood pat.

While the St. Louis front office contemplates its moves, the team has been scuffling. Over the past four games, they have managed six runs in dropping three of four. They have lost five of seven overall, hitting 7-for-47 (.149) with runners in scoring position during that span.

Struggling Zach Duke (4-5, 4.23 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates, hoping St. Louis' offensive drought lasts at least one more day. The left-handed Duke lasted just 2 1/3 innings Sunday at Milwaukee, allowing six runs - five earned - and seven hits, including a pair of home runs.

Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols has had success against Duke in the past, going 8-for-19 with three doubles and a home run. He went 2-for-3 with a two-run blast on May 30 when the Cardinals handed Duke a loss.

St. Louis will counter with righthander Kyle Lohse (10-2, 3.61), who has not lost since May 8 at Colorado. Lohse did not factor in the decision in his lone start against the Pirates this season, allowing four runs in seven innings on May 13.

Pittsburgh is coming off a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees Thursday in the makeup of a rained out game from June 26. Nate McClouth snapped a 2-2 deadlock with a two-run homer in the seventh and Paul Maholm pitched eight strong innings for the win.