The St. Louis Cardinals will send 14-game winner Kyle Lohse to the mound in Game 4 of the 2011 NLCS against Milwaukee Brewers lefthander Randy Wolf.
Lohse was 14-8 this season for St. Louis with a 3.39 ERA. He hasn’t pitched since Game 1 of the NLDS against Philadelphia, taking the loss after giving up five earned runs in five and a third innings.
The Cardinals righthander started 14 games at Busch Stadium this season, going 6-5 with a 3.67 ERA.
Lohse allowed 37 earned runs on 81 hits, struck out 54 and walked 22 in 90.2 innings of work. He gave up 11 home runs and allowed opponents to hit .237 against him.
In three starts against the Brewers this season, Lohse was 1-2 with a 2.37 ERA. He worked 19.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on 15 hits, walked eight and struck out 10.
Wolf was 13-10 for Milwaukee this season with a 3.69 ERA. He started a total of five games against St. Louis this season, going 3-2 with a 5.34 ERA. Wolf allowed 19 earned runs and 32 hits in 32 innings of work.
Wolf started three games against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, going 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA. In 21 innings he allowed eight earned runs on 16 hits, walked three and struck out eight.
The Cardinals lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 and can take a commanding lead with a win Thursday.
Lohse will be well rested and although his record doesn’t reflect it, he’s been very effective against Milwaukee this season.
Wolf last pitched in Game 4 of the NLDS against Arizona. The Diamondbacks roughed him up, scoring seven runs in three innings. He allowed eight hits, walked three and allowed two home runs before he was chased.
Neither pitcher going in Wednesday’s Game 4 will overpower hitters. Both will try to keep hitters off balance using offspeed pitches and location to get batters out.
The key will be which of the two starting pitchers locates their pitches and can get batters out while allowing their offense’s to produce.
