Series Preview – Cards @ Rockies

The Cardinals just finished a successful nine game home stand with last night’s win, taking 2 of 3 from the Cubs, and going 6-3 overall.  Now the Cards hit the road to a couple of beer towns, playing four games in Denver and then four in Milwaukee.  So far this season, the Cards got the better of both teams.  They hope to keep it that way during the road trip.  It’s nice to have both the King of Beers and the better baseball team.

Joel Pineiro is scheduled to make the start tonight.  Yesterday, upon hearing the news of the promotion of Mike Parisi, I speculated what his role would be.  I asked Jeff Gordon, of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, what the plan might be.  Here’s the transcript:

Concerning the Anthony Reyes demotion. As I understand it, Mike Parisi was promoted to provide insurance if Joel Pineiro can’t go, and Reyes was struggling and still has an option. Is that accurate? Is there more to the story? Is Parisi just a place holder? A trade in the works perhaps?

Thanks!
Mike from Miami  Jeff Gordon:  Parisi is insurance, since he was ready to start Sunday. Longer term, I see the Cards putting a natural reliever in that slot while Reyes concentrates on starting. Might the Cards trade Reyes? Sure, if another team made an interesting offer. The pitchers are stacking up at Memphis and somebody will have to go at some point.

Gordo’s full discussion from earlier this afternoon can be found here.

Ubaldo Jimenez will start for Colorado.  He’s already faced the Cardinals once this season, taking the loss on April 3rd at Busch, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings.

It’s Braden Looper and Mark Redman tomorrow night, Adam Wainwright and Jeff Francis on Wednesday, and Kyle Lohse against Jorge De La Rosa on Thursday. On paper, the match ups seem to favor the Cardinals.  I look for the Redbirds to win the series.