Gameday: Phillies (48-44) at Cardinals (52-41)

Philadelphia Phillies (48-44) at St. Louis Cardinals (52-41)

Jamie Moyer, LHP (9-9, 4.88 ERA) vs. Chris Carpenter, RHP (10-3, 3.16 ERA)

Time: 8:15 p.m., Busch Stadium
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 90
TV: WPHL
Twitter: @PhilliesNation

This has not, suffice it to say, been a particularly enjoyable post-All Star Game road trip for the team from Philadelphia. After the rotation’s youngest starter got roughed up so bad the Phillies sent him to Siberia Allentown, the rotation’s oldest starter will try to right the ship for a team that was expected to come screaming out of the gate, but instead has lost four of five. Jamie Moyer’s prospects don’t look good–opposing him is Chris Carpenter, the 6-foot-6 righty with a Cy Young and three All-Star appearances under his belt, and a deserved reputation as one of the toughest pitchers in the game to hit. So there that is.

I know it’s been a rough couple days for the Phillies, with getting blasted back-to-back nights on national TV, with Jayson Werth’s social capital disintegrating before our very eyes. But in this Cardinals team that’s surely about to curb-stomp the Phillies into a precarious position in the standings, we can take solace. If our team is going to lose, it’s going to lose to a thrilling veteran pitcher and (possibly) the best baseball player we’ll ever see. So let’s take some comfort in that.

TRADE UPDATE, 7:49: If you haven’t heard, the rumor mill is churning at its fastest pace so far this summer. According to Jim Salisbury, Roy Oswalt is a very hot name being linked to the Phillies, as are Dan Haren and possibly James Shields. A trade tweeted by Rob Kuestner of CSNPhilly.com is Roy Oswalt to Philly, Jayson Werth to an unnamed team, with that unnamed club sending prospects back to Houston.

Phillies Lineup: Rollins (SS), Polanco (3B), Ibanez (LF), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Victorino (LF), Ruiz (C), Valdez (2B), Moyer (P)

Your Gameday Beer – Heavy Busch in Duck Hunter Camo

This is sort of stealing from Pat’s recommendation yesterday, but while this beer originates in St. Louis, I was introduced to it in South Carolina. When I was in college, I drank some pisswater Anheuser-Busch products (Bud Light with lime, Natty Light, Busch Ice, King Cobra, etc.), but this one, camouflaged Heavy Busch, was my favorite. I’ve only ever been shooting once and didn’t hit a damned thing, but drinking a beer that was trying to hide from me was absurd enough to be at least temporarily amusing. Gan bei. -by Michael

GO PHILS!