With Eric Gagne out as closer, Salomon Torres was chosen to start the ninth with a two-run lead. However, he was removed after yielding a double and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Shouse entered to face left-hander Skip Schumaker but gave up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Yadier Molina. With the winning run at the plate and two outs, Shouse then got Adam Kennedy to ground out to short to end it. Shouse will get a few save opportunities when there are lefties due up late in the ninth, but Torres is the better bet to pile up saves.

Ludwick struck out in the other three at-bats, but that he's hitting .347 with 11 doubles, two triples, and the eight homers in just 101 at-bats is one of the main reasons why the Cardinals are off to such a strong start. He'll continue to see plenty of action against right-handers while he's this hot, making him an option in deeper mixed leagues.

Bannister gave up just two hits while walking a pair and striking out five. Had he not already reached 109 pitches he may have been brought back out for the ninth in a 4-0 game. Three poor outings in his previous four tries have raised Bannister's ERA, but he's still been a solid AL-only option overall. He's a nice option against the Marlins in Florida next time out.

Burres struck out just one and walked two, but he continues to do a solid job for the Orioles with a 3.59 ERA. His 21/16 K/BB is much less encouraging, as is his 5.95 ERA from last season. Burres has shown flashes of being able to get major league hitters out before, but it's never lasted very long in the past and there's little reason to expect him to continue doing this well.

Crawford singled, stole second, and scored in the first, then singled, stole second, and was stranded in the fourth. In the sixth he came to the plate with the Rays down a run and runners on second and third with two outs. Crawford took a big swing into a Justin Speier offering and homered over the fence in right for his third long ball of the season. We were expecting more power from Crawford than the 11 homers he hit last season, but he's on pace for a similar amount thus far.

Santana also walked just one, but that he gave up nine hits did him in today. Santana has a 2.63 ERA thus far on the season, but that he's at 1.31 at home means his trend of big home-road splits is continuing. He'll be at home against the Dodgers on Friday, so make sure he's active.

Upton, who also added a steal, used his speed on all three runs, including moving from second to third and then home on back-to-back wild pitches in the sixth. The power that Upton showed last season has yet to appear, but his batting average and stolen bases are still there and his plate discipline is improved. Expect a power outburst in the near future.