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The Cardinals will send 23-year old left-hander Jamie Garcia to the mound today versus the Phillies, who will send Joe Blanton to the rubber for the first time this season. Garcia, who only appeared in 10 games last season for the Cardinals, is off to a hot start with a 2-1 record and an impressive 1.04 ERA in four starts.
He owns a 0.96 WHIP and has struck out 17 to just 8 walks, nearly a 2-to-1 ratio. What may be most impressive about Garcia is that he is racking up innings, pitching a season-high seven innings twice and six innings in the two other starts.
Garcia will go up against Joe Blanton after a shaky outing in Double-A Reading, but the Phillies expect him to return to form for the 2010 season.
"Commandwise, I don't know if it's going to be typical Joe Blanton," Dubee said. "But I know one thing: He'll compete like hell."
Blanton posted 12 wins last season and owns a career 4.21 ERA.