When I think of the Cardinals this season, I can't help but think of Rocky IV.
- The first three games in St. Louis were the exhibition match between Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago. The Dodgers came in atop the baseball world, perhaps overly cocky, and the next thing they knew Apollo was dead, and Brendan Ryan's mustache said coldly, "If they die, they die."
- The two-plus weeks in between series were the Dodgers training in harsh conditions, growing an inordinate amount of facial hair (think Chad Billingsley's goatee) while facing ace after ace after ace.
- Monday night's game featured a few overwhelming displays of power -- homers by Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel that may not have landed yet -- that briefly knocked the Dodgers down
- Tuesday night's game was the cut over Drago's eye, the glimmer of hope that this Goliath was somehow beatable
- Somewhere during tonight's game, I expect a disheveled Larry Bowa to be smiling as Bob Schaefer asks, "What the hell are they doing out there?" Bowa will simply reply, "They're winning."
Remember, if I's can change, yous can change.
**********
The last time Clayton Kershaw faced the Cardinals, he shut them out for eight innings.
The last time Adam Wainwright faced the Dodgers, he shut them out for eight innings.
Tonight has the makings of quite a pitcher's duel at Dodger Stadium tonight. Assuming of course Kershaw has recovered from the flu bug that sent him home early Tuesday night, and also wiped out Matt Kemp from the starting lineup.
Scott Elbert was scratched from his Tuesday night start with Albuquerque, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, just in case he was needed on Thursday. Jeff Weaver is scheduled to start Thursday against the Cubs, but would presumably start tonight if Kershaw is still sick.
Andre Ethier has been en fuego for nearly a month now, hitting .390/.474/.695 with 14 doubles, six home runs, 24 runs and 25 RBI over his last 29 games. He had a double and a triple last night, and has an MLB-best 15 games with two or more extra-base hits this season.
Get your guesses in for "Just A Bit Outside" here.
Game Time: 7:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket