Scouting report • Following a disastrous 0-7 road trip, the Cardinals return to Busch Stadium for a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies. Normally a home series with Philadelphia, which sported the worst record in the National League entering Thursday, would be viewed as a welcome reprieve. But right now, even the Phillies are hotter than the free-falling Cardinals.
Philadelphia were 4-2 in June before Thursday’s game in Atlanta, whereas the Cardinals are 1-7 this month. The Phillies have been led by third-year center fielder Odubel Herrera, who is slashing .550/.571/1.300 with two home runs in his last seven games.