A look at the best-of-seven National League championship series between the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals:

Schedule: (All times Central) Game 1, Wednesday, at St. Louis (7:19 p.m., FOX); Game 2, Thursday, at St. Louis (7:19 p.m., FOX); Game 3, Saturday, at Houston (3:25 p.m., FOX); Game 4, Sunday, at Houston (3:35 p.m., FOX); x-Game 5, Monday, at Houston (7:20 p.m., FOX); x-Game 6, Wednesday, at St. Louis (3:20 p.m., FOX); x-Game 7, Thursday, at St. Louis (7:20 p.m., FOX)

x-if necessary.

Season Series: St. Louis won 11-5.

Projected Lineups

Regular-season stats

Astros: 2B Craig Biggio (.264, 26 HRs, 69 RBIs, 17 HBP), CF Willy Taveras (.291, 3, 29, 71 infield hits, 34 SBs), 3B Morgan Ensberg (.283, 36, 101), LF Lance Berkman (.293, 24, 82, 91 walks), 1B Mike Lamb (.236, 12, 53), RF Jason Lane (.267, 26, 78), SS Adam Everett (.248, 11, 54); C Brad Ausmus (.258, 3, 47).

Cardinals: SS David Eckstein (.294, 8, 61, 11 SBs), CF Jim Edmonds (.263, 29, 89), 1B Albert Pujols (.330, 41, 117, 16 SBs), RF Larry Walker (.289, 15, 52 in 100 games), LF Reggie Sanders (.271, 21, 54 in 93 games), 2B Mark Grudzielanek (.294, 8, 59), C Yadier Molina (.252, 8, 49), 3B Abraham Nunez (.285, 5, 44).

Graphic previews the National League Championship Series between the Astros and Cardinals; 2c x 3 3/4 inches

Projected Rotations

Astros: LH Andy Pettitte (17-9, 2.39 ERA, won last seven decisions, 14-2 with 1.56 ERA last 20 starts), RH Roy Oswalt (20-12, 2.94, career-high 241 2-3 innings), RH Roger Clemens (13-8, major league-best 1.87 ERA), RH Brandon Backe (10-8, 4.76).

Cardinals: RH Chris Carpenter (21-5, 2.83), LH Mark Mulder (16-8, 3.64), RH Matt Morris (14-11, 4.11), RH Jason Marquis (13-14, 4.13) or RH Jeff Suppan (16-10, 3.57).

Relievers

Astros: RH Brad Lidge (4-4, 2.33, 42/46 saves, 103 Ks in 70 2-3 IP), RH Dan Wheeler (2-3, 3 saves, 2.21 in 71 games, 69 Ks), RH Wandy Rodriguez (10-10, 5.33 in 25 games, 22 starts), RH Russ Springer (4-4, 4.73), RH Ezequiel Astacio (3-6, 5.67 in 22 games, 14 starts), RH Chad Qualls (6-4, 3.28 in 76 games), LH Mike Gallo (0-1, 2.66).

Cardinals: RH Jason Isringhausen (1-2, 2.14, 39/43 saves), RH Julian Tavarez (2-3, 3.43, 4 saves), LH Ray King (4-4, 3.38), RH Cal Eldred (1-0, 2.19), RH Brad Thompson (4-0, 2.95, 1 save), LH Randy Flores (3-1, 3.46, 1 save).

Matchups

Central rivals meet in first NLCS rematch since Braves-Pirates in 1991-92. Cardinals beat Astros in seven games last year, rallying against Clemens in Game 7 at Busch Stadium. The home team won every game in the series. … Cardinals swept three-game series in April and again in July in St. Louis. … Carpenter dominated Houston this season, going 4-0 with a 1.85 earned-run average in five starts. He pitched two complete games, including a shutout, and had two wins in games started by Clemens. … Pettitte was 0-1 in three starts against St. Louis despite a 1.35 ERA. Oswalt was 1-2 with a 5.21 ERA in three starts. … Sanders hit .429 with five HRs and 13 RBIs against Houston. … Ensberg hit .339 against St. Louis with five HRs. … Biggio was hitless in 12 at-bats and struck out twice against Mulder. … Pujols had four homers, eight RBIs and 12 runs against the Astros. Walker 1-for-9 against Clemens this year.

Big Picture

Astros: Knocked out Braves in four games in opening round, wrapping up series with 7-6 victory in 18 innings, the longest game in postseason history. Clemens came out of the bullpen to pitch three innings and win the clincher. Pettitte won the opener for his 14th postseason victory, one behind Atlanta’s John Smoltz for most ever. Oswalt followed his second straight 20-victory season by also winning his start. … With Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent departed, and Berkman and Jeff Bagwell ailing, Houston (89-73) was 15-30 after 4-2 loss at Chicago on May 24. But Astros went 74-43 the rest of the way to clinch wild card on final day of regular season – just like last year. The 1914 Boston Braves were the only other team to come back from 15 games under .500 to make playoffs. … Have dominant closer in Lidge, who converted 26 of last 27 save chances in regular season. … Stellar pitching was needed because Astros scored two runs or fewer 52 times and were scoreless 17 times – nine of their shutouts coming in games started by Clemens. … Berkman is recovered from offseason knee surgery and hit 11 homers in September. Bagwell missed 115 games after shoulder surgery, and is now solely a pinch-hitter.

Cardinals: Finished with best record in league (100-62) and followed with sweep of San Diego in division series, racing to big leads in all three games. Sanders set NLDS record with 10 RBIs and Cardinals got plenty of hitting from likes of Pujols (.556), Eckstein (.385), Edmonds (.364) and Nunez (.364). … Defending NL champions reached 100 wins in consecutive seasons for second time in franchise history (1942-44). … Nunez stepped in to replace Scott Rolen (shoulder), who homered off Clemens in Game 7 of last year’s series. Sanders (broken leg), Molina (broken hand) and Walker (herniated disc in neck) all missed significant playing time during season, but Cardinals got big years from utilitymen Nunez and So Taguchi. … Rotation is a major upgrade from last year with Cy Young Award candidate Carpenter and Mulder at top. … Al Reyes, team’s top middle reliever, tore elbow ligament in regular-season finale and will require reconstructive surgery, forcing him to miss playoffs and 2006.

Watch For:

¢ Rotating Houston’s Way. The Astros couldn’t set up their rotation the way they wanted for last year’s NLCS. With Clemens unavailable until Game 3, the Cardinals faced Backe and Pete Munro in Games 1 and 2, and Oswalt got only one start. This time, Houston has postseason stalwart Pettitte – who was out with elbow injury last year – going in the opener and Oswalt and Clemens to follow, and should need only one start from outside of that trio.

¢ Up For a Test? Cardinals were never in jeopardy of losing in first round, outscoring Padres 19-2 in first five innings. They probably can’t expect things to come so easily against Houston’s pitching.

¢ Houston’s Problem. Inconsistent offense was Astros’ biggest problem during season. The Astros got much of their offense in last year’s NLCS from Beltran and may need somebody else to carry them this time.

¢ Role Players on a Roll. The Cardinals’ lineup is dangerous enough with Pujols and Edmonds. If Sanders, Eckstein and Nunez hit the way they did in the first round, St. Louis has enough weapons even for a staff as good as Houston’s.

¢ Astros Time? Houston needed eight tries before it finally won a playoff series. After first-round victories the last two years, are Astros ready to advance for first time? With Clemens, Biggio and Bagwell nearing the end of their careers, Astros may not get a better chance.