Dodgers Open Humid Road Trip in St. Louis

The Dodgers open a four-game series in St. Louis tonight, a city in which they have won only 3 of their last 17 games (19 games if you count the 2004 NLDS).

Tonight's Dodger starter, Randy Wolf, for whatever reason, has an ERA a run lower on the road this season.  Wolf is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 10 starts away from Dodger Stadium.  He has 21 strikeouts against only four walks in July.

Chris Carpenter has not allowed a run to the Dodgers since 2005.  Granted, it has only been two starts (2008 & 2006), but all the Dodgers could muster in those 14 innings off Carpenter was five measly hits.  Actually, since Carpenter didn't allow a run in his final three innings in this 2005 start, his personal scoreless streak against the Dodgers is 17 innings and counting.

Manny Ramirez is really the only Dodger with any kind of success against Carpenter in his career, with a double and two home runs in 24 at-bats, hitting .292/.393/.583.

New Cardinals Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo get their first taste of wearing the home whites, so for those watching ESPN be prepared to hear how good the fans are in St. Louis as each player receives a welcoming ovation.

ESPN is doing something different with their broadcast of tonight's game.  Michael Heistand of USA Today reports:

ESPN will keep play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman in the booth, but analysts Orel Hershiser and Steve Phillips will be stationed in the camera wells beside each dugout.

Get your guesses in for "Clogging The Bases" here.

Game Time:  4:05pm

TV:  Prime Ticket, ESPN

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