BASEBALL: Michael McGreevy's birthday wish? For Cards to end skid vs. Brewers

Michael McGreevy faces a tall task on his 26th birthday as the St. Louis Cardinals send him to the mound against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, hoping the right-hander can end the team's four-game skid.

Cardinals Manager Oliver Marmol pushed McGreevy's spot in the rotation back two days to give him a little more rest for his final start before the All-Star break. Through 17 starts this season, McGreevy (3-7, 3.12 ERA) has thrown 95 1/3 innings. Last season, in 32 games (31 starts) between the Cardinals and Triple-A Memphis, he amassed 170 2/3.

McGreevy's not the only one getting a little more rest. Andre Pallante, whose last outing happened on Friday, is scheduled to throw Thursday in the finale of the five-game set against the National League Central leaders. In addition, Marmol has also juggled the bullpen in an effort to keep relievers fresh.

"It's part of the game within the game, health," Marmol said after Tuesday night's 10-2 loss to the Brewers, who swept the day-night doubleheader. "We can't afford to lose guys, so we've got to be able to honor it.

"...We mapped out what (Tuesday) was going to look like... and we have mapped out what (Wednesday) looks like as well. It's to give us the best opportunity to compete but also stay healthy until we get to this break."

McGreevy last pitched on July 1, going six innings in Atlanta. He gave up just two runs on three hits and a walk but suffered the loss as the Braves won 5-1.

His last win came two months ago in San Diego, when he improved to 3-2. Over his last nine starts , McGreevy's ERA has risen by nearly a full run.

The righty has faced Milwaukee just once. On May 26, the Brewers scored five times on him in just four innings. McGreevy took the loss in a 6-0 decision.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy expressed similar concerns about his bullpen coming into the series, but in the three games so far, the Brewers starters have accounted for 20 2/3 of the 27 innings.

Milwaukee pitchers have not given up much against the Cardinals through the first three games of the set. St. Louis has mustered just 16 hits so far, with right fielder Jordan Walker going 3-for-8 in Tuesday's contests with a two-run homer in the opener.

A key to the Brewers taking the first three games in St. Louis has been the bottom of the order. The team's six-through-nine hitters have accounted for 17 of the 28 hits, produced 10 RBIs and scored 12 of the 18 runs.

Third baseman Joey Ortiz, who hit ninth in both of Tuesday's games, went 5-for-9 in the twin bill, with a double and a home run.

"Those aren't the guys that are in the limelight every single day," Murphy said, after the 10-2 win. "So, that's a nice effort."

Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.82) gets the start for the Brewers Wednesday. The left-hander threw just 2 2/3 innings in his last start, last Friday in Arizona. He gave up three runs on five hits and a walk but did not factor in the decision as the Brewers won 7-4 in 11 innings.

Harrison will make his second start against St. Louis. In the May 26 game, he tossed six innings, allowing the Cardinals just four hits while posting two strikeouts.

-Field Level Media/Reuters