The Cardinals and Brewers play the rubber game of their series and the winner takes first place in the National League Central. This could be a high scoring game as Todd Wellemeyer and Manny Parra both hold ERAs over five. We’re not sure of Ryan Braun’s status for the game, as he left Tuesday night’s game after getting hit on the wrist by a pitch. The Brewers have done a good job this season against Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, holding him to a .333 slugging percentage. They’re pitching around him, walking him five times in 15 at bats for a .429 OBA, but he’s 4 for 15 with one double and just two RBI in five games.

If anyone can end Toronto’s losing streak it’s Roy Halladay. He’ll take the hill against Rich Hill of the Orioles. The way Toronto is scoring lately, Roy may need to pitch a shutout. He came close in his last start, pitching seven shutout innings only to see the Jays go on to a 1-0 loss. He’s allowed one earned run or less in his last four starts. Rich Hill makes his third start of the season, and so far the results are good. He brings in a 3.18 ERA, helped by 12 strikesouts in 11 1/3 innings. The six walks are somewhat worrisome, however.

The Cincinnati Reds used the Cardinals/Brewers split to gain ground in the NL Central, and they sit in third place 1 1/2 games back of the two leaders. Their game against the Astros is another candidate for slugfest of the day as Felipe Paulino faces Bronson Arroyo. Paulino brings a 6.90 ERA into a good hitters park, but not that good of an offense. The Reds rank 8th in the NL in runs per game. Paulino is simply giving up lots of hits as the opposition bats .347 against him. He started out decently in April, with a good game against the Reds, but in his last three games he allowed 15 earned runs in 10 innings. Arroyo pitched brilliantly and horribly this season. He has three starts in which he allowed one run or less, and two in which he allowed nine runs. He’s brought his ERA down in his last three starts to 5.79 from a high of 7.15.

The Washington Nationals get to experience Johan Santana tonight as they send rookie Jordan Zimmermann against the Mets. Zimmermann has the strikeout and walk rates right where they should be, but his six home runs allowed in 41 innings is a bit of a problem. Santana is so effective this season that righties are hitting him for a slightly lower BA, OBA and slugging percentage than lefties.

Enjoy!