July 4: Rockies (31-49) @ Cardinals (42-39)

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

Officially, the second half of the season begins today, with game No. 82. At the midway point, the Cardinals find themselves trailing the Reds and the Pirates by 2.5 games, a deficit certainly manageable enough to overcome. There’s been good — the Cards lead the NL with a .275 team average — and not-so good — that 8-13 record in one-run games stands out. There’s been mediocre — the club’s 4.03 ERA ranks ninth in the NL — too.

Even with some key injuries, this club seems to have largely underachieved, which has to increase the intrigue for the second half of the year. The Cardinals close out the pre-All-Star Game stretch with five more home games, all against teams below .500.

Some small tidbits coming out of the clubhouse today: Jaime Garcia (left shoulder strain) began a throwing program that is designed to have him ready to return in mid-August. Lance Berkman (right knee surgery) continued his increased baseball activities by fielding groundballs at first base.

CARDINALS LINEUP:

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Jon Jay (CF)
3. Matt Holliday (LF)
4. Carlos Beltran (RF)
5. Allen Craig (1B)
6. Yadier Molina (C)
7. David Freese (3B)
8. Skip Schumaker (2B)
9. Adam Wainwright (RHP)

ROCKIES LINEUP:

1. Dexter Fowler (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (2B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Tyler Colvin (RF)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Chris Nelson (3B)
7. Will Nieves (C)
8. Jonathan Herrera (SS)
9. Jeremy Guthrie (RHP)

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