(My Sportsbook) - Living up to expectations is never an easy accomplishment. Oftentimes, teams that are picked by most of the so-called experts to succeed fold like a cheap suit.

This season's media darling is the St. Louis Cardinals, who entered this season fully loaded and seemingly prepped for an NL pennant run. The fans and media alike were expecting big things from the 2002 NL runners-up.

St. Louis is feeling the pressure of the inflated prospects and it has shown with a 9-10 start to the year. The Cardinals have been particularly tight in the past four games --- all losses.

The Cardinals fell below the .500 mark on Wednesday after a 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. St. Louis' offense was relatively quiet for the fourth straight game, as it has managed only eight total runs during the span.

Jim Edmonds was the only Cardinals' hitter to muster offense in the game, belting a two-run homer in the ninth frame. No Cardinal managed more than one hit in the losing effort.

St. Louis couldn't get its bats going against four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, who held it to just three hits over seven frames. Maddux, who lost his first three starts of the season, handcuffed the Cardinals all night long.

"That's just him. He does what he wants to with the ball. He uses his defense when he wants to and makes his nasty pitches when he needs to. It's not a fluke he's had the success he's had," said catcher Mike Matheny.

The Cardinals let their starting pitcher down, as Matt Morris nearly matched Maddux's effort in the contest. Morris surrendered just five hits and two runs over seven innings, while fanning three and walking one.

"When you go out there against a guy like Maddux...I love watching him pitch just because of how good he is," Morris said. "You want it to be a 1-0 game; but you want to be on the other side of it."

Reliever Jeff Fassero did his starter no favors in the loss, giving up two hits and two runs over one inning of action. Fassero walked and struck out one in the frame.

Due to its losing streak, St. Louis has dropped into fourth place in the Central Division, three games behind the first place Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals are only two games ahead of Milwaukee for fifth as well.

WHO'S HOT

Thursday's starting pitcher Woody Williams has been on fire as of late. Williams has yet to allow a run in 19 2/3 innings of action this season, while giving up 11 hits and fanning 13. The hurler has won six straight regular season decisions dating back to last year, including a victory over Arizona last week.

WHO'S NOT

Fellow pitcher Jason Simontacchi is struggling mightily with an 0-1 record and an 11.25 ERA in three starts. Simontacchi has allowed 19 hits and 15 runs over 12 innings, while walking 10 and fanning seven. Last time on the hill, Simontacchi gave up six hits and four runs over five frames against Arizona in a loss.

COMING UP

The Cardinals close out their three-game set against the Braves at Turner Field on Thursday. St. Louis will move on to Florida to battle the Marlins in a three-game series this weekend at Pro Player Stadium.