APC Pujols News

Cardinals set to face Detroit

The best news is Albert Pujols is set to return on Thursday. That should give the Cardinals a little hop in their step for the remaining three weeks before the All Star break. First things first though. The St. Louis Cardinals, 44-33, and 4.5 games out in the NL Central will take on the Detroit Tigers, 36-39, 5 games out in the AL Central this week at Comerica Park. This series will be the first time these two teams have played since the 2006 World Series, in which the Cardinals won in five games.

On Tuesday, Braden Looper gets the call for the Cardinals. Looper is 8-5 on the season with a 4.10 era. He has pitched well his last two starts, throwing a complete game shutout against the Reds, and most recently pitching seven solid innings in a no decision against Kansas City. Looper is 2-1 in his career against Detroit, and has made one start. His career era is a hefty 7.45. A few g uys that have decent numbers off Looper are Miguel Cabrera, .273- Magglio Ordonez is 2-3 with a homerun, Placido Polanco, .286, and Edgar Renteria .300. This should be a good test for Looper.

Kenny Rogers, the lefthander has pitched well lately for Detroit. He is 5-4 on the season with a 4.36 era. He has went 7 or more in his last five outings, only garnering one win in that time. His last time out, Rogers threw 7 innings, allowing just one run on five hits in a win over San Fransisco. Kenny is 0-0 with 2 career regular season starts against St. Louis. He threw really well in the 2006 World Series, against St. Louis.

Wednesday features nine game winner, Kyle Lohse for St. Louis, who has won six straight starts, and has not lost since May 8. He will take on the youngster for Detroit, Armando Galarraga. Galarraga is 7-2 with a 3.03 era. Armando has never faced St. Louis is his career.

The last game of the series on Thursday features Todd Wellemeyer, who was roughed up in his last start against Philadelphia, but hasn’t pitched since. He will face another lefthander for the Tigers in Nate Robertson. Robertson is 6-6, while Wellemeyer comes in 7-2.

Good luck to the Cardinals! We cannot wait to see Albert back in the lineup!

Go Cardinals!