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(Sports Network) - Despite Ryan Howard's year-long struggles, the Philadelphia Phillies remain on top of the National League East standings. Perhaps a return to his hometown will help spark Howard, whose team begins a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Busch Stadium.

The St. Louis-born Howard went 0-for-12 with four strikeouts in Philadelphia's recent three-game series with the Marlins -- a set that saw the Phillies lose twice -- and now has a season batting average of .204. That is the lowest Howard's average has fallen since an 0-for-4 performance on May 25 also had him at .204 for the season.

Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, has still managed 15 homers and 49 runs batted in on the season, but hasn't gone deep since May 30, a span of 12 games. The left- handed hitting slugger is a career .328 batter versus the Cardinals, though, and has six homers, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored in 16 games against them.

Even with Howard's struggling bat, the Phils prevented a sweep at the hands of the Marlins with a 3-0 victory last night, pushing their lead over the second- place Marlins back to three games.

Philadelphia managed 11 hits, but saw its first runs come on a wild pitch in the sixth inning. Jayson Werth added insurance when his single in the eighth plated Chase Utley.

Meanwhile, Jamie Moyer continued his career dominance of the Marlins with eight shutout innings in a start that saw him carry a no-hitter into the sixth frame. Moyer (7-3) only allowed two hits and improved to 9-0 in nine career starts against the Marlins, fanning three and walking one.

The Phillies are now 4-2 on their nine-game road trip.

Kyle Kendrick would like to build a dominance of the Cardinals similar to Moyer's over the Marlins. The right-handed Kendrick is 2-0 in his two career against the Cardinals with a 2.77 earned run average. His lone win at Busch Stadium came on September 17 of last year, when he gave up three runs over six innings.

The 23-year-old is 5-2 with a 4.87 ERA on the season and hasn't lost since April 16 versus Houston. He has gone 4-0 in 10 starts since and has allowed more than three runs in just three of those outings. He got a no-decision on Saturday versus Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings.

Kendrick will oppose a hurler for the Cardinals who also hasn't lost in some time. Todd Wellemeyer takes the rubber for St. Louis and is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last seven starts, having not lost since April 28. The right- hander hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last seven starts and is 7-1 with a 2.92 ERA this year.

Wellemeyer has won back-to-back starts and bested Washington on June 5 behind six shutout innings. He allowed only five hits and a walk while striking out five.

Wellemeyer has a 3.52 ERA in five games, including one start, without a decision lifetime versus the Phils.

The Cardinals had a four-game winning streak snapped on Thursday with a 6-2 loss to the Reds. Right-hander Joel Pineiro returned from the disabled list and threw five effective innings for the Cardinals. Pineiro, who gave up three hits and two runs, had been out with a right groin strain since late May.

Troy Glaus clubbed a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who totaled just four hits in the game. Glaus, though, is only a career .189 hitter (10-for-53) versus the Phils with four homers and 10 RBI.

The Cardinals did wrap a road trip with a 6-3 record despite the loss and trail the Cubs by 3 1/2 games for first place in the NL Central.

The Phillies and Cardinals are meeting for the first time this season after Philadelphia took six of nine in the series last year. That includes a 4-2 mark in St. Louis.