Series Preview: Padres Head to St. Louis

Aug 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey (41) pitches in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1

Game 1 will feature one of those new additions for the Cards, John Lackey (12-8, 3.98 ERA). He will pitch against Eric Stults (5-13, 4.76 ERA). Lackey is 1-1 in 2 starts for St. Louis, with an 8.25 ERA in 12 innings. The Orioles knocked him around for 9 earned runs his last time out. However, his first start for his new team was impressive as he pitched 7 innings and allowed only 2 runs. He has 2 starts against San Diego in his career, as he has spent most of his career in the American League. In those 2 starts, he is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 11.1 innings. Lackey has pitched better at home this year, combining his numbers with the Red Sox and Cardinals he is 6-3 at home with a 3.16 ERA.

Stults has only allowed 1 run in his last two starts, and he has struck out 9 in that span of 12.2 innings. He has lowered his ERA significantly lately. Stults’ numbers against the Cardinals are identical to Lackey’s against the Padres, 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in 2 starts. Stults has struggled on the road this year, going 1-9 with a 5.37 ERA in 13 starts. He has also allowed 14 home runs on the road.