Announcement

**Spark** · 06-07-2004, 08:41 AM

*Cardinals 1B Pujols suffers strained hamstring*
-----------------------------------------------

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert
Pujols was forced to leave Sunday's game with a strained left
hamstring.

The only Cardinal to start all 55 games this season, Pujols
suffered the injury in the sixth inning while rounding second
base following a base hit.

The Cardinals will not know the extent of the injury until
Pujols undergoes an MRI on Monday. He is listed as day-to-day.

"When I hit the bag, I felt it get tight," said Pujols, who is
tied for the major league lead with 17 home runs. "When I tried
to take another step, that's when I felt like I pulled it. I
was in so much pain, I almost got thrown out at second."

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said he did not think Pujols
suffered a tear.

"I'd be surprised if he's ready the next couple days, maybe even
the whole series," La Russa said. "If you told me right now
that he'd play next weekend, I'd take that immediately."

The Cardinals, who are two games behind first-place Cincinnati
in the NL West, begin a four-game series against the Chicago
Cubs on Monday.

"If I can't go, I don't want to push it," said Pujols, who is
batting .325 with 40 RBI. "I think I'm smarter than that."

**Ripped71** · 06-07-2004, 11:28 AM

SAN FRANCISCO (28 - 28) at COLORADO (21 - 34) - 4:05 PM
BRETT TOMKO (R) vs. SHAWN ESTES (L)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 27-9 (+16.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Monday over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN FRANCISCO is 28-16 (+7.4 Units) against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
24 of 42 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.0 Units)

BRETT TOMKO vs. COLORADO since 1997
TOMKO is 3-4 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 3.51 and a WHIP of 1.140.
His team's record is 5-5 (-0.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 6-4. (+1.9 units)

SHAWN ESTES vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
ESTES is 0-1 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.48 and a WHIP of 1.839.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS (32 - 24) at CHICAGO CUBS (29 - 26) - 8:05 PM
CHRIS CARPENTER (R) vs. GLENDON RUSCH (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 18-7 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
CARPENTER is 8-2 (+6.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
CARPENTER is 6-1 (+5.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season. (Team's Record)
CARPENTER is 27-15 (+14.3 Units) against the money line in road games when his team is off a loss since 1997. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 81-109 (-57.6 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-98 (-52.1 Units) against the money line in home games in all games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-98 (-52.1 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-98 (-52.1 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 24-18 (+4.8 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS over the last 3 seasons
22 of 41 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.5 Units)

CHRIS CARPENTER vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
CARPENTER is 1-0 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.333.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

GLENDON RUSCH vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
RUSCH is 4-5 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.54 and a WHIP of 1.341.
His team's record is 5-8 (-1.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-10. (-8.2 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH (24 - 29) at TEXAS (30 - 24) - 8:05 PM
KIP WELLS (R) vs. R.A. DICKEY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS is 23-13 (+12.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
TEXAS is 12-4 (+9.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Monday over the last 3 seasons.
DICKEY is 5-1 (+4.3 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 10 to 10.5 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
PITTSBURGH is 10-1 (+10.2 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 3-0 (+3.1 Units) against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.9 Units)

KIP WELLS vs. TEXAS since 1997
WELLS is 2-1 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 2.59 and a WHIP of 1.274.
His team's record is 2-2 (+0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (-0.2 units)

R.A. DICKEY vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
No recent starts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON (30 - 25) at SEATTLE (21 - 34) - 10:05 PM
BRANDON DUCKWORTH (R) vs. CLINT NAGEOTTE (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)

BRANDON DUCKWORTH vs. SEATTLE since 1997
DUCKWORTH is 0-0 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 0.857.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

CLINT NAGEOTTE vs. HOUSTON since 1997
No recent starts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI (34 - 22) at OAKLAND (31 - 24) - 10:05 PM
COREY LIDLE (R) vs. MARK MULDER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 75-47 (+27.4 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
OAKLAND is 24-8 (+13.9 Units) against the money line in home games in June games over the last 3 seasons.
MULDER is 9-0 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in home games in an inter-league game since 1997. (Team's Record)
MULDER is 6-0 (+6.2 Units) against the money line in home games in June games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
CINCINNATI is 6-2 (+6.3 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters this season.
CINCINNATI is 34-22 (+18.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CINCINNATI is 32-21 (+17.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CINCINNATI is 9-4 (+9.5 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
CINCINNATI is 18-10 (+14.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CINCINNATI is 15-8 (+11.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
LIDLE is 6-1 (+9.0 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +150 to +175 since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)

COREY LIDLE vs. OAKLAND since 1997
LIDLE is 1-1 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 5.73 and a WHIP of 1.455.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)

MARK MULDER vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
MULDER is 1-0 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 1.50 and a WHIP of 1.167.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)

**Ripped71** · 06-07-2004, 11:28 AM

National League:

San Francisco (13.5) at Colorado (-120), 4:05 ET
Tomko (R) vs. Estes (L)
(Matchup)
Tomko - San Francisco 1-7 away after scoring 12+ runs
Estes - Colorado 7-2 off a loss by 10+ runs

St. Louis (-130) at Chicago Cubs (N/A), 8:05 ET
Carpenter (R) vs. Rusch (L)
(Matchup)
Carpenter - 6-1 TSR as a favorite
Rusch - 0-7 TSR at home after allowing 2+ home runs last start

Inter-League:

Pittsburgh (10.5) at Texas (-135), 8:05 ET
Wells (R) vs. Dickey (R)
(Matchup)
Wells - Pittsburgh 1-8 vs. AL West opponents
Dickey - Texas 12-4 at home on Mondays

Houston (-120) at Seattle (9), 10:05 ET
Duckworth (R) vs. Nageotte (R)
(Matchup)
Duckworth - 15-5 Under off 6+ division games
Nageotte - Seattle 8-20 off an Over

Cincinnati (8) at Oakland (-170), 10:05 ET
Lidle (R) vs. Mulder (L)
(Matchup)
Lidle - Cincinnati 2-10 vs. AL West opponents
Mulder - 9-0 TSR at home in interleague games

**Spark** · 06-07-2004, 02:49 PM

Monday, June 7th (All times eastern)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (24-29) AT TEXAS RANGERS (30-24), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Kip Wells (3-4, 4.14) Texas - R.A. Dickey (4-5, 4.80)

(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates try to solve their recent slump tonight, as they visit the Texas Rangers for the opener of three-game interleague set at Ameriquest Field.

The Pirates dropped two of three at Wrigley Field this weekend and have lost seven of their last eight contests.

Pittsburgh's latest setback came against the Cubs on Sunday. Greg Maddux tossed seven solid innings and Aramis Ramirez ignited a two-run seventh inning with his 12th homer of the season, as Chicago defeated the Pirates, 4-1.

Ryan Vogelsong (1-6) suffered the loss after giving up two runs on four hits in six-plus innings. He walked one and fanned five.

The Rangers also lost their series to the Yankees over the weekend, losing two of three in the Bronx. New York posted a 2-1 victory in Sunday's finale, as Mike Mussina allowed just one run over eight-plus strong innings and Bernie Williams and Jason Giambi slammed solo home runs.

Ryan Drese (2-3) suffered the complete-game loss. He yielded only two runs on seven hits in eight innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.

Texas has won four of its last six contests and is currently third in the American League West -- two games behind Anaheim.

The Pirates will send Kip Wells to the mound tonight, as the righthander tries to pick up his first win in over three weeks. Wells' last victory came on May 16 in San Francisco and he has registered three straight no decisions since then.

Wells surrendered three runs and four hits in five innings of work against St. Louis on Wednesday. He struck out one batter and walked five in the Pirates' 5-3 setback.

The 27-year-old Wells has been excellent in his career against Texas, going 4-1 with a 1.97 earned run average in eight games (four starts).

Meanwhile, R.A. Dickey will try to earn his first victory in over a month, as he takes the mound for the Rangers tonight. Dickey posted a win on May 2 against Boston, but has been 0-4 in six starts since then.

Dickey pitched well in a no decision last Wednesday in Cleveland. He surrendered just one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Dickey also struck out seven batters and walked two in the Rangers' 5-3 win.

This will be Dickey's first-ever appearance against the Pirates.

The Pirates have an all-time interleague record of 42-55, while Texas is 56-66 against the National League. Pittsburgh went 5-7 in interleague play last season and the Rangers were a dismal 4-14.

This will be the second all-time series between Pittsburgh and Texas. The Rangers earned a three-game sweep over Pittsburgh from June 21-23, 2002.

CINCINNATI REDS (34-22) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (31-24), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Cory Lidle (4-4, 4.42) Oakland - Mark Mulder (6-2, 2.96)

(Sports Network) - Oakland lefthander Mark Mulder tries to win his fifth straight decision, and the Athletics aim to continue their domination in interleague play as they begin a three-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds tonight at the Coliseum.

The Reds and A's are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to interleague play, which gets started for the eighth season tonight. Oakland holds the best mark interleague mark (75-47) in the majors. Last season the A's went 9-9 versus the National League, but they are 12-0 all-time against NL Central teams. This marks the first of 12 straight games against NL Central squads for the Athletics, who will also play Pittsburgh, St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs during the run.

The A's are 3-0 in interleague play against the Reds. The teams met in 2002 with Oakland sweeping a series in Cincinnati. Tonight also marks Cincinnati's first trip to Oakland since the 1990 World Series, when the Reds swept the Athletics.

The Reds are 43-54 all-time in interleague play and have scored the fewest runs (422) of any team since regular season play began between the NL and AL. The Reds went 7-5 last year versus the American League.

Mulder is unbeaten in his last six outings and is coming off a no-decision against the White Sox on Wednesday when he allowed two runs over seven innings. The 26-year-old southpaw has a 1.82 ERA in his last five starts and opponents are hitting .181 against him.

This is Mulder's longest winning streak since he won five straight starts April 19 - May 11 last year. He is 37-10 in 60 career starts in Oakland.

Mulder's only career start against the Reds came June 23, 2002 and he got the win by allowing one run over six innings.

Cory Lidle, who pitched for the A's from 2001-02, faces his former team tonight. The 32-year-old righthander is unbeaten in his last three outings (2-0), but is coming off a no-decision at Florida on Wednesday when he allowed seven hits and a run over seven innings. That was the contest where Dontrelle Willis retired the first 20 Reds batters until Sean Casey singled with two outs in the seventh inning. Casey scored the tying run later that inning and belted the winning two-run homer.

Lidle will make his third career start and fourth career appearance versus the A's. He is 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA lifetime against them.

The Reds come into tonight's action two games ahead of St. Louis for first place in the NL Central. Dave Miley's squad pulled another rabbit out of the hat yesterday with a 6-5 victory over the Montreal Expos. D'Angelo Jimenez delivered an RBI single in the ninth inning to score Barry Larkin for the winning run. The Reds scored three times in the bottom of the ninth, one day after Adam Dunn hit a pair of homers, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning, to give Cincinnati a 6-3 win.

Jimenez ended 3-for-5 with a run scored yesterday, while Jacob Cruz tied the game with a two-run homer in the ninth. However, even those heroics were overshadowed by two homers from teammate Ken Griffey Jr., as he moved closer to 500 for his illustrious career. Griffey, who ended with three RBI, smacked his 497th and 498th home runs of his career. He is now just two homers shy of becoming the 20th player in major league history to hit 500 in his career.

Griffey has five homers in his last six games for the Reds, who have won 14 of their last 18 contests.

The A's enter this evening's action 1 1/2 games behind idle Anaheim for first place in the AL West. Oakland has won five of its last six contests, including an 8-3 triumph over Toronto yesterday in the Bay Area.

Eric Byrnes hit his third career leadoff homer during a four-run first inning, and Oakland cruised the rest of the way. Scott Hatteberg added a three-run double for the Athletics, who took three-of-four against the Blue Jays.

The Reds are 16-12 on the road this season and have captured eight of their last nine outside Great American Ball Park.

Oakland has won 10 of its last 11 home games and is 17-10 at the Coliseum this season.

HOUSTON ASTROS (30-25) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (21-34), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Brandon Duckworth (1-0, 6.57) Seattle - Clint Nageotte (0-1, 9.00)

(Sports Network) - Clint Nageotte makes his first major league start this evening when the Seattle Mariners start the interleague portion of their schedule with a three-game set against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field.

Nageotte's start tonight also ends a remarkable 218 game streak that saw the Mariners use the same five starting pitchers. Since Opening Day of last year, only Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer, Ryan Franklin, Joel Pineiro and Gil Meche have started for the M's. However, Meche's ineffectiveness landed him in Triple-A Tacoma last week, thus opening a spot for Nageotte.

The 23-year-old Nageotte, the Mariners' fifth-round selection in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, has quickly worked his way through the farm system, but had a less than memorable major league debut last Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Nageotte gave up four runs on four hits in four innings of relief, while suffering the loss in that outing.

Seattle comes into tonight's tilt riding a two-game winning streak after taking the final two games of their three-game set with the Chicago White Sox, including Sunday's thrilling win at Safeco Field.

Jolbert Cabrera drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to force in Willie Bloomquist for the game-winning run to lift Seattle to the victory last night. Randy Winn went 4-for-5, including a homer, with two RBI and two runs scored for the Mariners, who have split their last six games.

Seattle reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa (2-3) earned the win by pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Mariners are in the midst of a 12-game homestand and are 12-16 in Seattle this season.

Houston, meanwhile, salvaged the finale of their three-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, as Raul Chavez drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth and Astros held on for 3-2 win at Busch Stadium.

Chavez ended 2-for-4 and Jose Vizcaino added three hits and two runs scored for the Astros, who have won three of their last five. Jeff Kent contributed a pair of hits and an RBI, extending his current hitting streak to 21 games.

Kent's streak is the Astros' longest since Moises Alou hit in 23 straight in 2001 and three shy of Tony Eusebio's 2000 team record.

Roy Oswalt (4-4) got the win, tossing six innings of six-hit, two-run ball. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter, as he has won two of his last three decisions after dropping three in a row. Octavio Dotel worked the ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Heading to the hill tonight for the Astros will be 28-year-old righthander Brandon Duckworth, who will be making his fourth start of the year. Duckworth. 1-0 on the season, started last Saturday and allowed three runs and four hits in three innings of work, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 5-3 win. He also gave up three home runs, while raising his earned run average to 6.57.

Duckworth has faced the Mariners just once in his career, but did not receive a decision in a solid seven inning effort.

The Astros are 15-12 away from home this season.

In the only other series between these teams, played in June of the 2002 campaign, the Mariners took two of three from the Astros in Houston. This will be the Astros first-ever trip to the Emerald City.

Houston is 57-47 all-time in interleague play, while the Mariners have posted a 65-57 mark against the Senior Circuit.

06/07 11:11:27 ET

**Spark** · 06-07-2004, 02:50 PM

Monday, June 7th (All times eastern)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (28-28) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (21-34), 4:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Brett Tomko (1-4, 5.61) Colorado - Shawn Estes (6-3, 5.40)

(Sports Network) - Colorado lefthander Shawn Estes hopes to continue his home success today by facing his former club, as the Rockies close out a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field.

Estes, who spent the first seven seasons (1995-2001) of his career with the Giants, is 0-1 in his last three overall starts. He has yet to lose at home this season, going 3-0 with a 5.79 ERA in four appearances. He has allowed only one run over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts, but does not have a decision to show for it. In fact, the Rockies have been outscored 10-3 over his last three outings, all of which have been Colorado defeats. Today marks Estes' first home start since May 13 as each of his last four assignments have come on the road.

This will be Estes' third career start against the Giants. He faced them on May 28 at SBC Park and tossed 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

Brett Tomko will try to end a lengthy winless drought as he takes the mound this afternoon for San Francisco. The righthander is 0-3 over his last six outings and hasn't won since April 28 versus Atlanta. He is coming off his shortest start of the season, working only 3 1/3 innings in an 8-6 defeat last Wednesday in Arizona. He was touched for nine hits and five runs.

Tomko owns a 3-4 lifetime mark with a 3.51 ERA over 10 efforts against the Rockies. He threw seven innings in a no-decision versus Colorado at SBC Park on May 28. Tomko has never won a game at Coors Field, losing all three of his starts to go along with a 9.60 ERA.

Yesterday, Michael Tucker, Damon Minor and Cody Ransom finished with two hits and three RBI apiece to lead the Giants to a 16-4 pounding of Colorado. Barry Bonds added a homer -- the 674th of his career -- for the Giants, who won for only the second time in six games following a 10-game winning streak. Bonds was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored.

Dustin Hermanson (2-2) picked up the win with seven innings of work, yielding two runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

Todd Helton went 2-for-3 with a solo homer for Colorado, which has dropped 13 of its last 17 games. Aaron Cook (1-1) took the loss after giving up eight runs on eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings. He walked five and fanned one before getting pulled in San Francisco's five-run fifth inning.

The Giants swept a three-game set from the Rockies last weekend at SBC Park and had beaten Colorado six straight times dating back to last season before Saturday night's defeat. San Francisco is 13-2 in the last 15 matchups between the clubs.

The Giants are 3-4 on their current 14-game road trip, the team's longest trek since the 1989 season. San Francisco is 13-14 outside SBC Park this season.

Colorado has lost seven of its last 11 at Coors Field and holds a 13-15 home mark.

Rockies outfielder Jeromy Burnitz is riding a 10-game hitting streak.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (32-24) AT CHICAGO CUBS (29-26), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Chris Carpenter (6-1, 3.44) Chicago - Glendon Rusch (2-0, 3.73)

(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals expect to be without one of their big offensive weapons tonight when they begin a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

First baseman Albert Pujols, who is hitting .325 this season and is tied for the major league lead with 17 homers, injured his left hamstring running the bases in the sixth inning of yesterday's 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium. Pujols was scheduled to be examined today. Not only is he expected to miss the entire four-game series, but there's a chance he could go on the disabled list for the first time in his career.

John Mabry will likely replace Pujols at first base for the Cardinals, who had a season-high six-game winning streak broken yesterday. Tonight the focus will be on righthander Chris Carpenter, as he takes the mound unbeaten in his last eight outings (5-0). His only loss this year came April 14 against Houston.

Carpenter threw seven solid innings in a win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He struck out nine and didn't walk a batter, while scattering seven hits and allowing three runs. He faced the Cubs for the first time in his career on May 21 at Wrigley Field and came away with a victory after giving up three runs in six innings.

The Cardinals come into tonight's action in second place in the NL Central, two games behind the Cincinnati Reds.

The Cubs won the final two contests of a three-game set against the Pirates over the weekend and sit in fourth place in the division, 4 1/2 games in back of the Reds.

Lefthander Glendon Rusch gets the start tonight for the Cubs. He has already surpassed his victory total from all of last season when he went 1-12 with Milwaukee. Rusch has appeared in seven games this season, starting four of them and has not received a decision in his last two contests.

Rusch has been filling in for injured ace Kerry Wood and has done more than an admirable job. He beat the Cardinals on May 22 at Wrigley Field, fanning nine hitters through 7 2/3 innings. He gave up just six hits and a run and holds a career mark of 4-5 versus the Cardinals.

Yesterday, Greg Maddux tossed seven solid innings and Aramis Ramirez ignited a two-run seventh inning with his 12th homer of the season, as Cubs defeated the Pirates, 4-1. Maddux (5-4) allowed just one run on four hits, walked none and struck out six. He earned his 294th career win and 100th as a member of the Cubs.

LaTroy Hawkins worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.

Ramirez finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Todd Hollandsworth also had two hits and scored a run for Chicago.

Cody McKay drove in both runs for the Cardinals yesterday. Jim Edmonds added a pair of hits for St. Louis, which is 10-5 during its current 19-game stretch against NL Central opponents.

St. Louis has won four straight and six of its last seven outside Busch Stadium and is a major league-best 19-9 on the road this year.

Cubs second baseman Todd Walker is one hit shy of 1,000 for his career. He is in a 2-for-24 slump over his last six games.

Chicago is 16-12 at home this season.

The Cubs lead the season series, 4-3. Most of the games have been tight with four of the contests being decided by a run. The Cubs have won eight of the last 12 encounters dating back to last season.

06/07 11:09:37 ET

**Spark** · 06-07-2004, 02:51 PM

Monday, June 7

National League

San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies, 4:05 p.m.
Partly sunny. Winds blowing from left to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 95.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.

Inter League

Pittsburgh Pirates at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 85.
Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners, 10:05 p.m.
Cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 60.
Cincinnati Reds at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 60.

Tuesday, June 8

National League

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cub, 8:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 85.

Inter League

Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m.
Clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 75.
San Diego Padres at Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Colorado Rockies at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 85.
Florida Marlins at Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers, 7:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing from right to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago White Sox, 8:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing from right to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 85.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 15-25 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 80.
Montreal Expos at Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 15-25 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 85.
Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners, 10:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 70.
Cincinnati Reds at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 20-30 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 60.
Milwaukee Brewers at Anaheim Angels, 10:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 70.

**Spark** · 06-07-2004, 06:51 PM

Hot Pitchers
-- Estes has 0.79 RA in his last two starts, but Rockies lost his last three, scoring total of just three runs. They are 4-0 in his home starts, scoring 40 runs in those tilts.
-- St Louis won Carpenter's last seven starts, scoring 44 runs; he is 4-0, 1.98 in his last five starts. Rusch is
1-0, 3.00 in four starts for the Cubs.
-- Wells is 1-0, 3.38 in his last four starts.
-- Mulder is 3-0, 1.48 in his last four starts; A's scored 36 runs in winning his last five starts. Lidle, who threw for the A's in '02, is 2-0, 2.38 in his last three starts.

Cold Pitchers
-- Tomko is 0-3, 6.42 in his last six starts.
-- Dickey 0-4, 7.59 in his last six starts.
-- Duckworth has 7.56 RA in his three starts, but the Astros scored 32 runs in winning two of the three.

Hot Teams
-- Giants won twelve of their last sixteen games.
-- Cardinals won six of their last seven games and nine of twelve on road, including last four in row.
-- Texas won thirteen on their last nineteen home games Pirates won seven of their last eight road series openers including the last four in row.
-- Reds won eight of last nine road games and four of last five series openers; they're 17-5 in last 22 games overall. A's are 10-1 in their last 11 home games, and their last three home series openers.

Cold Teams
-- Rockies lost 13 of last 17 games and their last five series finales; they're 9-3 in last 22 home games.
-- Cubs lost eight of last twelve games and nine of last twelve series openers; they're 4-7-1 in last 12 series.
-- Pirates lost seven of last eight games.
-- Astros lost eight of last eleven road games and their last three road series openers. Houston, however, is
6-2-1 in road series this season. Seattle lost six of last eight series openers; they won the last two games, but are 9-17 in last 26 games, 5-9 in last 14 at home.

Totals
-- Over is 8-0-1 in Giants' last nine road games, 7-1-1 in Rockies' last nine home games and 7-2 in Tomko's last nine starts; 53 runs were scored in first three games of this series.
-- Under is 3-0 in last three Cardinal road games, 7-0 in last seven Cub home games and 6-2 in Carpenter's last eight starts.
-- Under is 3-0 in last three Pirate road games, 6-2 in last eight Ranger games and 3-1-1 in last five Dickey starts.
-- 10 of last twelve Oakland home games stayed under.
-- Five of last six Houston road games stayed under.

**Spark** · 06-07-2004, 06:58 PM

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