Wacha looks to give Cardinals another great start vs. Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- The St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitchers have been among the best in the National League this season.

Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha (2-1, 2.74 ERA) will attempt to continue St. Louis' string of solid performances when he opposes Los Angeles Dodgers righty Kenta Maeda (3-2, 5.03) in the series finale Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

Despite having three pitchers in the top five of the National League's ERA leaders, the Cardinals haven't won as much as they might expect. They were 1-5 in their previous six games, but that changed Wednesday night.

National League ERA leader Mike Leake delivered another gem in a win over the Dodgers. He allowed one run on four hits and had five strikeouts and no walks in eight innings of a 6-1 romp.

 

Wacha pitched six scoreless innings and received a no-decision Friday in a 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Wacha, who will be making his eighth start of the season, ranks fifth in the NL in ERA. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn, who is third at 2.53, allowed one run and two hits in eight innings but received a no-decision in a 2-1 loss in 13 innings to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Wacha has worked six innings or more in all seven of his starts. Wacha also has limited opposing batters to a .143 average with runners in scoring position. With two outs, opponents are hitting .071.

Wacha, though, has received no-decisions in his past four starts. He hasn't earned a win since beating the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 19. St. Louis has dropped three of his last four starts.

Wacha is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers. In his last start against them, Wacha dropped an 8-4 decision May 13, 2016, at Dodger Stadium. He allowed six runs in four innings.

 

Maeda hasn't pitched since May 10, when he allowed two runs on five hits in a career-high 8 1/3 innings in a 5-2 win over the Pirates. Maeda struck out five and did not walk a batter.

A day later, Maeda went on the disabled list with a tight hamstring, forcing the Dodgers to be cautious with his return.

In his only career start against the Cardinals, Maeda gave up two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings and picked up the win in a 7-2 decision July 23, 2016, in St. Louis.