(My Sportsbook) - Kyle Lohse was the St. Louis Cardinals' best pitcher in the first half of the season. It's been a different story since the All-Star break, however.

Lohse will try to find his first-half touch tonight, when the Cardinals open up a three-game set with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

A late signing by the Cardinals prior the season, Lohse was 11-2 with a 3.39 earned in 20 starts before the All-Star break but has gone just 2-4 with a 5.36 ERA in eight starts since. The righty has yet to allow fewer than three runs in any of his second-half starts and has dropped his last three decisions.

He did get a no-decision on Saturday versus the Braves, allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings to move his season ERA to 3.96.

The 29-year-old Lohse has bested the Astros in all three starts against them this year, posting a 2.50 ERA over that span. He is 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA in eight lifetime games (7 starts) versus Houston, but has a 6.00 ERA in four outings at Minute Maid Park.

The Cardinals enter this series having split a two-game set with Milwaukee to stay 3 1/2 games back of the Brewers in the race for the National League wild card. They won Wednesday's finale, 5-3, behind the strength of a four-run eighth inning.

Ryan Ludwick had three hits and drove in two runs for St. Louis, while Aaron Miles knocked in the go-ahead run. Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina each had two hits in the Cardinals' fourth win in their last six games.

Pujols is currently batting .357, which trails only Atlanta's Chipper Jones (.359) in the majors. He is a career .314 hitter versus Houston and is batting .455 (5-for-11) with four RBI lifetime against tonight's starter for the Astros, Randy Wolf.

Wolf did not factor into the decision of his last start, which took place Sunday versus the Mets, as he allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings of work. He is 1-1 over his last four starts, while posting a 6.26 earned run average in that span.

He is 2-1 with a 5.29 ERA in six starts since coming over to the Astros from San Diego by way of trade. In fact, his final start with the Padres came against the Cardinals, who tagged him for six runs (4 earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a loss on July 19.

Lifetime against St. Louis, the 32-year-old lefty is 3-4 with a 3.96 ERA in eight games.

Houston has won three of its last five and used three solo homers on Thursday to top the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2. Ty Wigginton went deep twice and Humberto Quintero also homered.

This is the fifth series between the two clubs this year. The Astros have won the opener of each of the previous four meetings, with the Cardinals rebounding to win the last two matchups each time.