vlaze.com

The first place Cardinals head to Milwaukee for a 3 game series with the Brewers. Cards starter Joel Pineiro lasted 3 innings in his last start versus the Rockies as he gave up 8 hits and 3 earned runs in defeat. Pineiro was solid in his three starts before Colorado giving up 4 earned runs in 20 1/3rd innings. He was hit by a 95 mile per hour fastball while at bat against the Rockies and experienced only mild bruising on his forearm and it should have no impact on the right hander. He only threw 53 pitches against the Rocks so his arm should be fresh here. Milwaukee is a little slow out of the gates sitting near .500 and 4 games behind the Cardinals in the loss column heading into last Thursday's action. Ben Sheets has pitched well for the Brewers early in the season. But then Sheets experienced soreness in triceps that forced his to skip his turn in the rotation. Sheets returned to the rotation and has given up 7 earned runs over 11 1/3rd's innings pitched in 2 starts back and dropped his first decision of the year against Houston last time out. Sheets has been marred by injuries over the past few seasons. Sheets is 1-6 versus St Louis over his last 8 starts.