Freese downplays hitting cold spell

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cardinals third baseman David Freese said it's a slump, there's no two ways about it. But he also wants to keep his 0-for-16 streak in perspective.

"If this was going on in August, it wouldn't look as bad," he said. "But it's early in the year and it looks like something big."

The slump may be magnified because he opened the season so well. Freese is still hitting .272 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs entering Wednesday's game, when he'll face Giants starter Madison Bumgarner for the first time.

"Freese is being put through the test of hitting the ball hard and not have anything go good for him," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Sometimes you start to press. If he just stays with his same approach, he'll be fine."

Freese didn't seem so concerned. When asked if he had hit the ball hard during the slump, he said, smiling, "occasionally."