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STL@WSH: Westbrook allows two runs over 5 1/3 innings

Yes, the postseason is just weeks away, but Cardinals manager Mike Matheny doesn't want his team to do anything differently during the stretch run.

The Cardinals and Brewers meet again on Saturday at Busch Stadium after a rain delay pushed Friday's game well into Saturday morning.

"Obviously everyone knows it's coming down to the wire and every game means so much," Matheny said. "As far as picking up the intensity, playing at home always gives you a little more energy. The fans are there. People are excited. We're making sure that the guys just keep playing the game and go about it the same way and are not trying to do anything more or less. It's just good consistent baseball."

The Cardinals, currently the second qualifier for the National League Wild Card, send Jake Westbrook to the mound on Saturday. He hasn't been sharp recently, posting an 8.22 ERA in his last three starts (15 1/3 innings).

He went 5 1/3 innings against the Nationals in his last start, allowing two runs on nine hits.

Milwaukee would need a miraculous final few weeks to make the postseason, but manager Ron Roenicke is glad to see his team make a run into relevancy in 2012.

"We've played well for a long time and it got us in this position, and I've really enjoyed watching these guys play," Roenicke said. "Just to see us back up on that board again, even if it's the last one, in the Wild Card hunt, it's nice to see."

Rookie Mike Fiers will make his 18th start of the season on Saturday. He allowed six runs over 3 1/3 innings against the Marlins last time out, increasing his ERA to 3.11, the highest it's been since June 20.

Fiers held the Cardinals to no runs and four hits over seven innings on July 16.

Brewers: Ramirez expecting to be back Saturday
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, 11 RBIs shy of reaching the century mark for the first time since 2008, sat out Friday's game to rest his lower back for one more game.

He hopes to resume his hunt for 100 RBIs on Saturday. He tweaked his back on Wednesday in Miami and said sitting out Friday's game was precautionary.

"That's something that you don't want to rush," Ramirez said. "If I tweak that again, I would probably be out for the rest of the season."

Ramirez is batting .327 over his last 88 games, raising his batting average from .218 to .295.

"I always said that if I'm healthy and play the game the way I'm supposed to be playing, the numbers will be there," Ramirez said. "I don't care about how I start -- at the end, they will be there if I play the way I'm supposed to be playing."

Cardinals: Descalso continues to start at shortstop
• With Rafael Furcal out for the rest of the regular season with a right elbow injury, Daniel Descalso continues to get most of the starts at shortstop.

Manager Mike Matheny, putting a priority on defense, has played Descalso at shortstop in five of seven games since Furcal's injury. Descalso made an error in the eighth inning in Friday's game, allowing Corey Hart to score.

"Danny has done a real nice job making plays," Matheny said. "Raffy was doing a great job for us all the way around. We just have to make adjustments with what we have."

Pete Kozma drew the other two starts at shortstop ahead of Ryan Jackson. With Descalso getting most of the time at shortstop, Skip Schumaker will probably see the majority of the time at second base.

• Matt Holliday was initially scheduled to start on Friday, but he was scratched due to the slick field conditions. Friday's game was delayed two hours and 20 minutes because of rain. Holliday pinch-hit in the ninth inning and grounded out.

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