Pre-Gamin' with RedBird Nation: [at Dodgers] 9:10pm

The past few weeks of baseball for the defending champion-Saint Louis Cardinals most certainly haven't been very pleasant whatsoever--but with all of that being said--this team has the potential to catch fire at just about every time out on the field.

Well, tonight, would indeed be just as big as any game as well as the perfect time to do so. With the Los Angeles Dodgers trailing the Cardinals by one game in the National League Wild Card spot--as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates (2.5 GB) and both the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers--who are both three games behind--no series to this date in 2012 becomes more meaningful when it comes to the month of October.

Tonight, both the Cardinals and Dodgers open up a four game series on the West Coast as the Dodgers will be hosting our Cardinals for four straight games. Following the Cards being swept by the likes of this season's lowly Padres--if the Cardinals want to sniff the post-season once again--it must start right here, right now, as in tonight.

Here is a quick glimpse at the 2011 defending World-Champions' lineup that first-season manager Mike Matheny has put together for the 9:10 pm Central Time (Saint Louis time) first pitch with the pitching matchup that features the Cardinals' Lance Lynn and the Dodgers' Josh Beckett.

1. Jon Jay (Centerfield)
2. Matt Carpenter (Third Base)
3. Matt Holliday (Left Field)
4. Allen Craig (First Base)
5. Yadier Molina (Catcher)
6. Carlos Beltran (Right Field)
7. Skip Schumaker (Second Base)
8. Daniel Descalso (Shortstop)
9. Lance Lynn (Pitcher)