A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #120...REDBIRDS trying to stay in the NL WILD CARD Shotgun have their work cut out...4 on the POTOMAC with the NL EAST leading NATS and an L already Last Night...REDBIRDS @ NATS Preview with BUCCOS and BOYS in BLUE watching closely

St. Louis Cardinals don't look at the Scoreboard look at the Calendar an it will be September 1st Tomorrow and you have a 1/2 Game Lead on the Buccos and a 1 1/2 lead on the Boys in Blue in the NL Wild Card but first is first escaping the Potomac 2-Pack in S2 and G2...Strasburg and Gonzalez.

Yes the Redbirds lost Last Night and yes they face G2 today with Zimmerman in the Middle with a Sunday vs S2 and good luck Redbirds. Meanwhile the Nats are trying to catch the Reds for the Best Record on the Senior Circuit and in the Bigs for Winning Time Purposes as well as stave off the Braves. The Buccos gain a 1/2 Game as they were Idle last night and have a 3-Game Set at the Brew Crew. The Dodgers already had a Setback as they lose 2-0 with their Ace Kershaw on the Hill and they have a 4-Game Set with the D-Backs.

With the Redbirds losing Last Night 8-1 to the Nats and a 4-Game Set and Game #2 Tonight let's break it down:

August 31, 2012
STL Wainright (13-10) vs WAS G2 (16-7) 7:05PM ET

September 1, 2012
STL Lohse (14-2) vs WAS Zimmerman (9-8) 4:05PM ET

September 2 2012
STL Westbrook (13-10) vs WAS S2 (15-6) 1:35PM ET

The Redbirds have their Top 3 Arms going as Skip McCarthy has it lined up the Right Way but that 1st loss was Crucial and now they have Ace Wainright going against Gio Gonzalez Tonight to get them back on the Winning Track.

Game 3 the Redbirds have the Edge as Lohse has been the Real Redbirds Ace and comes in at 14-2 with a sparkling 2.64 ERA and a 3.7 to 1 K to BB Ratio.

Game 4 the Redbirds will throw Bulldog Westbrook vs the Nats and the Right Hand of their Double-Barreled Aces Stephen Strasburg and unfortunately for the Redbirds that S2 Innings Count couldn't come quick enough.

The Redbirds will have watchers in the Buccos from Milwaukee and on the West Coast from Chavez Ravine and the Boys in Blue. The Dodgers hosting the D-Backs who are not out of the NL West Picture yet.

Note: Schedule/Numbers from MLB.com