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Fading Cardinals look to get back on track vs. Pirates

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:08 AM St. Louis (78-69) at Pittsburgh (61-86) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The most important road trip of the season for the St. Louis Cardinals did not get off to the best of starts.

Trailing three teams in the chase for the National League wild card, the Cardinals turn to Adam Wainwright to snap a three-game skid when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

St. Louis (78-69), who fell 10-2 in the series opener on Friday, lost a half-game to Milwaukee, Houston and Philadelphia, all of which were rained out.

With 15 games remaining the Cardinals trail the Brewers (83-64) by five games as they turn to Wainwright (9-3, 2.85) to jump-start a stretch run. The righthander has been stellar since returning from the disabled list on August 22.

He is 3-0 in four starts, posting a 1.78 ERA. Wainwright allowed one run over eight innings in his last start, a 3-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on September 7.

Jeff Karstens (2-5, 4.46) is the schedule starter for Pittsburgh. The righthander has lost five straight starts, but may be scratched due to an abscessed tooth.

The Pirates, who have lost 17 of 21, snapped a six-game losing streak with the win.