Phillies-Cardinals preview

8:15 p.m., Busch Stadium, St. Louis. TV: Channel 17. Radio: WPHT (1210-AM); WUBA (1480-AM) Spanish

Pitching matchup: Phillies RHP Roy Oswalt (3-1, 3.33) vs. Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia (5-0, 1.89)

CARDINALS vs. OSWALT: The Phillies' No. 3 starter returns after missing 3 weeks with back inflammation and an excused absence to help his family clean up after tornado damage in Mississippi . . . First baseman Albert Pujols is 25-for-80 (.313) lifetime against Oswalt with six doubles, five homers and 13 RBI. Catcher Yadier Molina is 4-for-19 (.211) with just one RBI and leftfielder Matt Holliday is 6-for-18 (.333) but has no homers and one RBI.

PHILLIES vs. GARCIA: The 24-year-old has developed into one of the best pitchers in the league, ranking third in ERA, second in complete games (two), fourth in pitches per inning (14.4) and 13th in opponent's batting average (.221) . . . The Cardinals are 5-3 in his starts with all the losses coming on walkoffs . . . Phillies hitters have had limited exposure to Garcia. Some career numbers: Ryan Howard .250-1-1 in eight at-bats, Placido Polanco .000-0-0 in five at-bats, Raul Ibanez .500-0-0 in two at-bats, Jimmy Rollins .250-0-0 in four at-bats and Carlos Ruiz .000-0-0 with three walks in two at-bats.

FYI: Third baseman Placido Polanco did not start last night. Manager Charlie Manuel said he was just getting a day off, although he did admit that Polanco has been dealing with some nagging back stiffness. He struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and stayed in the game . . . Shane Victorino (strained right hamstring) missed his second straight game but is reported to be improving quickly . . . John Mayberry Jr. started his second straight game . . . Albert Pujols started at third base for the first time since 2002. He was in the lineup despite being hit on the left wrist by a pitch in Sunday's loss to the Reds.

NEXT FOUR:

Tomorrow vs. Rockies - LHP Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.19) vs. LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-1, 3.70)

Thursday vs. Rockies - RHP Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.50) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (4-2, 2.89)

Friday vs. Rangers - RHP Roy Halladay (5-3, 2.21) vs. LHP C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.38)

Saturday vs. Rangers - LHP Cliff Lee (2-4, 3.84) vs. RHP Colby Lewis (4-4, 3.81)