Cardinals at Pirates, Game 134 Thread

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to Pittsburgh’s loss last night, the Cardinals have regained a full game lead over the Pirates.

Of course, that could all be erased tonight.

The Cardinals are back on the road, this time heading to PNC Park to take on the struggling Pirates.

Pittsburgh is just returning from a long road trip where they dropped 5 of 10. August has been their worst month thus far, as they have played to a 12-14 record.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, have been very good recently (barring the unspeakable Wednesday night disaster), going 16-11 in the month of August, and 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Behind Shelby Miller, the Cardinals will attempt to open up the series with a win against Francisco Liriano tonight. Although Liriano has been a better pitcher than Shelby this season, going 14-6 with a 2.74 ERA, he’s had a rough August, posting a 4.60 ERA and giving up 4 or more runs in 4 or fewer innings twice already this month.

Miller has been much better in August, posting a 3.47 ERA, and was phenomenal during his last outing, pitching seven innings of three-hit ball and giving up just one run.

For this trip to Pittsburgh, St. Louis is bringing its newest weapon: John Axford. Although Axford has struggled this season with a 4.45 ERA, he has been very good in the past (a 2.19 ERA with 70 saves between 2010 and 2011), and John Mozeliak has a knack for acquiring just the right piece at just the right time for just the right price (see Octavio Dotel and Edward Mujica). We’ll see if he’s done it again.

Over the next three days, the Cardinals have a golden opportunity to really run away with the NL Central division. Let’s hope they do!

Leave your comments below; go Cardinals!!!