I don't see the weak-hitting Padres sweeping the Cardinals with a victory today. The Cardinals are 9-0 in their last nine games after losing the first two games of a series. San Diego is 6-13 in its last 19 during Game 3 of a series.

The prideful Cardinals were blasted 12-1 by the Padres on Wednesday. That constitutes a week of runs for San Diego, which has the worst offense by far in baseball. The Padres are a little more potent now with several of their starting infielders back in the lineup, but they still are well below average.

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller is a talented youngster who needed to make some adjustments in his pitching to get his season turned around. Miller showed signs of that in his last start allowing two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 6-3 victory against the Cubs this past Saturday.

The Padres' bullpen isn't as good as it was earlier this season before trades. San Diego is starting rookie Ordisamer Despaigne, who has been shockingly good despite horrendous minor league statistics. This will be his seventh big league start, though, and the league is figuring him out. Despaigne gave up five runs -- two earned -- and walking five in 3 2/3 innings of a 5-3 loss at Atlanta during his last start.