Kyle Lohse News

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The St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes the Cardinals' rotation finished with the second-most wins in the majors, was the only unit to throw over 1,000 innings and posted a solid 3.66 ERA this season.

Now that the Cubs have signed the supposed best hitting coach in baseball in Rudy Jarmillo, maybe they can start thinking really big and go after a coach who can make an even bigger difference: Cardinals pitching guru Dave Duncan.

Brendan Ryan leaned back in a chair in front of his locker in a corner of the clubhouse, hands clasped on top of his shaved head, eyes closed.

General manager John Mozeliak on Thursday stopped short of making any promises about the make-up of next season's coaching staff regardless of manager Tony La Russa's return.

Manager Tony La Russa suggested Thursday that the may use Chris Carpenter on short rest if the Cardinals make it to Game 4. The Birds are down 2-0 in their NLDS matchup with the Dodgers and are sending Joel Pineiro to the hill Saturday against Vicente Padilla.

For Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa, the arrival of the postseason signals more than the rewarding end to a season on the move.

The Cardinals have settled their first three pitchers for the Division Series, whomever they may face.

John Smoltz and Kyle Lohse will both be available to come out of the Cardinals' bullpen for Games 1 and 2 of the National League Division Series in Los Angeles this week.

Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Saturday to ensure the NL Central champions will open the postseason on the road.

The manner in which manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan had set up their pitching rotation in the last month or so has made it apparent that veteran Chris Carpenter would start Game 1 in the Cardinals' first playoff series next Wednesday and Adam Wainwright, though he may win the Cy Young Award, would get Game 2 on Thursday.

Clint Barmes has been on a tear since the Rockies came home Tuesday, hitting .500 in the first five games of the nine-game homestand.

Jorge De La Rosa leads the Rockies with 16 victories. Don't believe me? You can look it up.

Albert Pujols has recorded his 181st assist of the season, setting a National League mark for first basemen.

The marathon portion of the season is complete. Now, the top teams in baseball are sprinting toward the postseason and hoping for a little magic to get them to the finish line.

QUESTION: If Kyle Lohse can replicate the success he had in Houston Monday night over his next few appearances, what do you think the deciding factors will be for Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan in choosing between Lohse and John Smoltz as the Cardinals' fourth starter in the playoffs? RICK HUMMEL One factor is that Smoltz probably could revert to ...

The Cardinals' offense erupted for a second successive night on Tuesday, supporting Joel Pineiro a night after backing Kyle Lohse.

Mark DeRosa homered twice at Minute Maid Park for the second time this season and the St.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse, who's struggled to recover from a forearm injury, gets three starts to dial everything in beginning Monday night in Houston.

St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is one of the best pitching coaches in the game.