Cardinals @ Brewers 4/15

[StlCards4ever515]

The Cardinals send their road warrior from 2004 to the mound on Friday night in hopes that he can show some more of his away-from-home magic. Jeff Suppan was nearly unbeatable on the road in '04, and he'll start against Ben Sheets and the Brewers at Miller Park.
A good start from Suppan would be welcome for a rotation that has scuffled a bit since a strong beginning of the season. After getting back-to-back fine outings to open the year in Houston, the Redbirds got just one quality start in five games on their first homestand of the campaign.

Sheets, meanwhile, may be the best pitcher in the National League, but he consistently has a tough time beating the Cardinals. He's 4-8 lifetime vs. St. Louis despite a respectable 4.41 ERA in 15 starts.

Friday's game begins a five-game, two-city trip for the Cardinals. They play afternoon games in Milwaukee on Saturday and Sunday, followed by a two-game visit to Pittsburgh.

Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Jeff Suppan
• 0-1, 11.25 ERA in 2005
• 1-1, 5.40 in 2004 vs. MIL

MIL: RHP Ben Sheets
• 1-1, 3.86 ERA in 2005
• 1-3, 3.70 in 2004 vs. STL

Player to watch
Larry Walker fits right in the middle of the Cardinals lineup in a lot of ways, and one of them is that he hits Sheets well. Walker is 7-for-18 (.389) lifetime against Sheets with four extra-base hits for an .833 slugging percentage.

Quotable
"We have such a great hitting ballclub and so you tend to overanalyze the way things are happening." -- Reggie Sanders

On television
• STL: FOX Sports Net Midwest
• MIL: FOX Sports Net North

On radio
• STL: KMOX AM-1120
• MIL: WTMJ AM-620

Quick hits
Including Spring Training, Albert Pujols has yet to strike out in 106 plate appearances in 2005. ... St. Louis has used at least two relief pitchers in every game this year, and at least three in every game but one. ... Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders have combined for 10 extra-base hits and two singles. ... Jason Marquis is the only Cards starter with an ERA lower than 7.84.

Roof
It should be a perfectly pleasant evening, though a bit cool. Which is not to say the roof couldn't still be closed.

On deck
• Saturday: at Brewers, 1:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: at Brewers, 1:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: at Pirates, 6:05 p.m. CT

[missionhockey21]

Should be a good game. Can Suppan's tendency to win on the road in addition to the strong Cardinals offense be enough to topple a very good Ben Sheets and hot playing Brew Crew?