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(Sports Network) - Ryan Howard is showing flashes from his 2006 MVP season as of late, and will try to keep the Philadelphia Phillies in the win column when they close out a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Howard is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak in which he owns a .340 batting average with six homers and 15 runs batted in. He drove in a pair of runs in Wednesday's 4-2 victory and put the NL East-leading Phillies ahead for good with a solo home run in the eighth inning.

Pedro Feliz also homered for the Phillies, who snapped a four-game losing streak and stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of both New York and Florida in the division standings. Jimmy Rollins tripled and knocked in a run, while reliever Clay Condrey struck out all three batters he faced to pick up the win.

All-Star closer Brad Lidge worked a scoreless ninth for his 20th save of the season. Young hurler J.A. Happ allowed two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 frames in just his third career major league start for the no-decision.

Philadelphia is 2-4 on a 10-game homestand and 24-22 as the host this season.

Jamie Moyer gets the call for the Phils on Thursday, but is currently not doing so hot on the mound. Moyer is winless over his last four starts (0-3) and did not factor in the outcome of a 9-4 setback on July 5 versus New York.

Moyer allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, and is 7-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 18 starts this season.

The veteran left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.45 earned run average and two complete games, including a shutout, over 11 career appearances (10 starts) versus the Cardinals.

St. Louis has lost five of its last eight games to fall 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the top spot in the NL Central. In last night's 4-2 loss to the Phillies in the second test of this set, Albert Pujols and Troy Glaus each knocked in a run to provide the offense. More importantly, pitcher Mark Mulder made his first start since September of last season after undergoing multiple shoulder surgeries, but was forced to leave after just one-third of an inning because of discomfort.

Mulder issued back-to-back walks to Chase Utley and Shane Victorino in the first inning before being replaced on the hill. Brad Thompson came on in relief and allowed two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. Kyle McClellan allowed a run in an inning-plus of relief and took the loss.

St. Louis is 1-1 on a six-game road trip and 25-20 away from Busch Stadium this season.

The Cardinals will hand the ball to Braden Looper on Thursday, and he was 2-0 in four starts before losing on July 4 versus the Chicago Cubs. Looper yielded only two runs in seven innings, but the Cardinals suffered a 2-1 loss.

Looper, who is 9-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 18 starts this season, is currently sporting a 5-2 record in eight road tilts this season.

The right-hander will make his first start against Philadelphia. In 58 career relief appearances in this series, Looper is 2-4 with 16 saves and a 5.83 earned run average.

St. Louis won two of three games versus the Phillies at Busch Stadium from June 13-15 this season. Philadelphia went 6-3 in the 2007 season series.