Meister der Farbe » a counter-point to Deshaun Watsons

HOUSTON -- While two games wont be enough for either the St. Louis Cardinals or Houston Astros to establish the momentum that has eluded both over the past month, their brief interleague series at Minute Maid Park could at least serve as a potential ignition.The Cardinals (62-56) claimed the final two games of their four-game set with the Cubs in Chicago over the weekend, closing that series where they began it relative to their position in the National League Central -- 12 games back of the Cubs. St. Louis last won three consecutive games July 27-29 (the finale against the New York Mets and the first two games of its series in Miami) and is 16-14 since the All-Star Game break.Left-hander Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93 ERA) will get the start for St. Louis on Tuesday night. He lost to the Astros on June 14 at Busch Stadium, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-2 setback. The Cardinals lost 4-1 the following day as Houston completed the sweep.Garcia is 2-6 with a 6.15 ERA in his career against the Astros. His 10 starts against Houston are his most against an opponent outside the NL Central.St. Louis will be without left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist, who departed in the eighth inning on Sunday with arm soreness. Siegrist has been plagued with a dead arm since returning from the disabled list last month and was removed after shaking his arm while on the mound Sunday in Chicago.Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is hopeful that Siegrist can rebound over the next week, with St. Louis facing three scheduled off-days during that stretch.Siegrist led the majors with 81 appearances last season, finishing 7-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He is 5-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 50 appearances this season.It wasnt worth (continuing) at that point, Siegrist said to MLB.com. I was shaking my arm out a little bit, really trying to get it going. Its been hard coming back from being on the DL and trying to get my arm back in shape. I kind of went through a little dead arm-type feeling, and its been hit or miss.The Astros (61-57) are dealing with bullpen issues as well. Closer Ken Giles spent the weekend on the paternity list while right-hander Luke Gregerson returned from the 15-day disabled list (left oblique) and allowed a solo home run in the seventh inning of a 9-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Houston also relied on rookie right-handers James Hoyt and Jandel Gustave in the setback.Well continue to grind through it, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told MLB.com. Well have our full bullpen back by Tuesday. Thatll be a nice return.Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) will make his second career start against the Cardinals. He is 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in two prior appearances (one start).The Astros are 13-16 since the All-Star break with three three-game losing skids during that stretch. They dropped the final two games of their series in Toronto and are in the midst of 14 road games during a 16-game stretch. Stitched NCAA Jerseys . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. College Jerseys Cheap . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. http://www.cheapncaajerseysbywholesale.com/ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Cheap College Jerseys Wholesale . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Cheap College Football Jerseys .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. J.T. Barrett was big-time in prime time last week and has two more showcase games in the next three weeks to boost his Heisman Trophy hopes.The Ohio State quarterback still has a long way to go to be a threat to Louisvilles Heisman front-runner Lamar Jackson, but if he is going to make a move now is the time. Barrett and the No. 2 Buckeyes are in the Saturday night slot on ABC again this week when they visit Penn State.Ohio State moves off the main stage the next week when it plays Northwestern at home before another prime-time game against No. 8 Nebraska, which could be a matchup of unbeaten teams.Against Wisconsin last week, Barrett ran for two touchdowns and threw what turned out to be the game-winner in overtime. Heisman voters like clutch and Barrett was at his best leading the Buckeyes from behind in the second half and to the win in OT.At a time when fans can watch a football game on their phones while pretending to pay attention to a kids soccer match, you might think playing nationally televised night games is not so important for a Heisman Trophy contender. But performing well in the spotlight still helps a lot.1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville (21 points)Last week: Jackson had an off night passing against Duke (13 for 26 for 181 yards) but his 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground made up for it. Even in a spotty performance Jackson has spectacular moments.This week: North Carolina State. The Wolfpack just lost to Clemson in overtime last week so Jackson can make a counter-point to Deshaun Watsons performance.2 (tie). Jake Browning, QB, Washington (8 points)Last week: Off.This week: Oregon State, which has the fifth-best defense in the Pac-12 at 5.27 yards allowed per play.2 (tie). Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson (8 points)Last week: Watson threw for a season-high 378 yards and the winning touchdown in overtime against North Carolina State. If not for a missed chip-shot field goal by the Wolfpack, the lasting memory of this game for Watson probably would have been the first pick-six of his career.TThis week: Off.dddddddddddd3. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State (4 points)Last week: Barrett passed for 226 yards and ran for 92 and two touchdowns against Wisconsin. He was 4 for 4 for 40 yards in overtime.This week: at Penn State, which has the eighth-best defense in the Big Ten at 5.34 yards allowed per play.4. Greg Ward Jr., QB, Houston (1 point)Last week: Ward had his best rushing game of the season in a wild win against Tulsa with 147 yards.This week: at SMU, which has the ninth-best defense in the American Athletic Conference at 5.48 yards allowed per play.FIVE MORE TO WATCH- Jabil Peppers, LB/QB/PR, Michigan. Peppers needs to follow up that eye-catching performance against Rutgers two weeks ago to keep momentum going. Good time to play Illinois.- Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State. Of all those high-profile running backs that were getting Heisman hype in the preseason (Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb), only Cook is still in the race.- Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State. The senior has 1,111 yards rushing in six games and needs 1,014 more to break Wisconsin Heisman winner Ron Daynes NCAA career record of 6,397 yards.- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma. Two early losses bumped Mayfield to the back of the Heisman line, but he is the third-highest rated passer in the nation (180.36).- Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama. The freshmans numbers arent gaudy, but he has accounted for 17 touchdowns (nine passing, eight rushing) and being the quarterback of the best team in the country is worth something.---Poll panel: AP Heisman watch panel: National Writer Paul Newberry, Georgia; Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins, Texas; Sports Writer John Marshall, Arizona; Sports Writer Joedy McCreary, North Carolina; Sports Writer Eric Olson, Nebraska; Sports Writer Steve Megargee, Tennessee; College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo, New York.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP ' ' '