Milwaukee, by contrast, dropped 2 of 3 to the Dodgers last week but has looked very much like the 32-20 team it is since the Cardinals showed up. The bullpen has been a wall in this series and Chad Patrick has been the matchup pick on days he gets called on — although it's worth noting Patrick's last start was actually against these same Cardinals on May 4, when he got knocked around for 4 earned in 3.1 innings. Different look, same opponent.
There's also a quietly relevant injury wrinkle on the Brewers' side: per Brewer Fanatic, manager Pat Murphy said Monday that Logan Henderson might not make his scheduled Wednesday start because of back tightness, which is part of why Patrick gets the nod. Combined with Brandon Woodruff still ramping back up and Quinn Priester's rough rehab outing, the Milwaukee rotation is being held together with bubble gum right now — it just hasn't mattered because the lineup keeps scoring.
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton (RP) — Naughton will undergo surgery next month to repair the damaged UCL in his left elbow, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/14
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse (SP) — Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos (RP) — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson (SP) — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.05/08
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson (RP) — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILRamon Urias (3B) — Urias' (elbow) resumption of a throwing program is considered imminent, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.05/25
- 10-Day-ILNathan Church (LF) — Church (lower body) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.05/22
- 60-Day-ILLars Nootbaar (LF) — The Cardinals are eyeing June 1 as a target date for Nootbaar's (heels) activation from the 60-day injured list, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/21
- Day-To-DayGerson Garabito (RP) — Garabito will be out for four months after undergoing surgery to address a broken bone in his foot, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILBrandon Lockridge (LF) — Lockridge is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late June after an MRI on his right knee showed a bone bruise, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/12
- 15-Day-ILJared Koenig (RP) — Koenig (elbow) said his live bullpen session went well Tuesday and he expects to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILBrandon Woodruff (SP) — The Brewers announced Tuesday that Woodruff (shoulder) is scheduled for a 60-pitch live batting practice session next week, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILLogan Henderson (SP) — Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that Henderson might not make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Cardinals due to back tightness, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILQuinn Priester (SP) — Priester (shoulder) was charged with five earned runs on five hits and three walks over three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.05/22
- 15-Day-ILAngel Zerpa (RP) — Zerpa will undergo UCL reconstruction on his left elbow next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRob Zastryzny (RP) — Zastryzny (shoulder/ribs) will resume a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/12
The market disagrees on the total — Pinnacle is at 8.5, DraftKings hung it at 7.5 — which tells you the books aren't fully sure what May's day-start tendencies will do here (his day-game ERA is reportedly north of 6.00). If you trust Patrick keeping the Cards' bats quiet for a 3rd straight day, the under at the lower number is the sharp side. If you think a banged-up bullpen behind a stretched-out starter cracks open, the over at 8.5 has the room. Either way, St. Louis needs to actually hit a baseball today before any of it matters.