Bodog Beat

The Cardinals look to beat up on the lowly Nationals. (AP Images)

After suffering a three-game sweep in Houston, the St. Louis Cardinals enter today with a one-game advantage over the idle Astros and Chicago Cubs.

A makeup game against the major league-worst Washington Nationals couldn’t come at a much better time.

Since winning eight of 12 to open this month, the Cardinals have dropped four of six since hosting the All-Star Game, with three of those defeats coming by a combined four runs.

To stop its slide before a three-game series at red-hot Philadelphia begins Friday night, St. Louis will look for help from Adam Wainwright, who is searching for his third win in four outings.

Collin Balester is expected to start in Jordan Zimmermann’s place after being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

St. Louis won two of three in a rain-shortened series from April 30-May 2 after the May 3 finale was washed out.

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