GDT 7/31 (L): St. Louis (61-49) @ Atlanta (49-58), 6:00 CT, Pineiro v. Hampton

[kah]

No GDT? Slackers.

[kah]

07/31/2008 1:40 AM ET
Pujols rolling as Cards heat up
St. Louis (60-49) at Atlanta (49-57), Thursday, 6 p.m. CT


ATLANTA -- Albert Pujols came to the plate three times in the final five innings on Wednesday. Twice, the Braves walked him intentionally. The other time, he hit the RBI double that proved to be the winning run for St. Louis.
Perhaps he won't even get the one chance on Thursday.

Pujols is rolling, with extra-base hits in each of the past five games. He has driven in or scored the winning run in three of the Cardinals' past four wins. In five games, his slugging percentage has climbed from .584 to .615.

"I'm getting good pitches and I'm driving the ball, man," Pujols said on Wednesday night. "That's it. Nothing different. Nothing different than April, nothing different than May, nothing different than June and July. Same thing. Same approach."

The man is simply raking, and it's likely in opponents' best interest to pitch around him when they get the chance. On Thursday, the Braves will decide what they think the best course of action is.

Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Joel Pineiro (3-4, 4.79 ERA)
Pineiro has been getting leads, but not holding them. And that's a problem. He's been ahead at some point in 15 of his starts, and yet he has only picked up three wins. He can be excellent, but he can also be frustrating. With Adam Wainwright's return coming fairly soon, Pineiro is one of three conceivable candidates to be bumped from the rotation, so he needs to show something in his next couple of starts.

ATL: LHP Mike Hampton (0-0, 13.50 ERA)
Hampton, making his first start since Aug. 19, 2005, allowed six runs on eight hits in four-plus innings Saturday against the Phillies, but did not factor in the decision. Staked to a six-run lead, Hampton exited with the bases loaded and no out in the fifth. All three baserunners scored in what became a demoralizing 10-9 loss. The oft-injured left-hander tossed 91 pitches -- 55 for strikes -- and threw first-pitch strikes to 12 of the 22 batters he faced. Hampton, who missed the first four months of the season with a strained left pectoral muscle, is 10-8 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 games (21 starts) against St. Louis. He hasn't faced the Cardinals since May 12, 2004, when he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings and lost.

Tidbits
The Cardinals assured themselves of their fifth straight winning or break-even road trip. They have had only one losing trip all season. ... Pineiro has only three decisions since April. ... After Thursday, the Cardinals have only two more road series against non-division opponents this year. ... Yadier Molina is 14-for-44 (.318) lifetime at Turner Field.

Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN

On radio
• KTRS 550

Up next
• Friday: Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 12-3, 3.68) vs. Phillies (Cole Hamels, 9-6, 3.27), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Cardinals (TBD) vs. Phillies (Joe Blanton, 5-12, 5.13), 6:15 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Cardinals (TBD) vs. Phillies (Brett Myers, 4-9, 5.46), 7:05 p.m. CT

[ElviswasaBluesFan]

This might be the latest a GDT has ever been started.

Mike Hampton? He'll give up 7, Pineiro will give up 8

[Guppy]

A kah start? Oh boy!

[ElviswasaBluesFan]

STL: RHP Joel Pineiro (3-4, 4.79 ERA)
Pineiro has been getting leads, but not holding them. And that's a problem. He's been ahead at some point in 15 of his starts, and yet he has only picked up three wins.

ouch

[kah]

A kah start? Oh boy!

It was 11:13 on game day. Y'all have no one to blame but yourselves.

[backstop]

Still hate Mike Hampton from 2000.

[Cardz82]

I sure am glad Hampton liked those Colorado schools for his kids.

[kennyboyerfan]

Still hate Mike Hampton from 2000.

++

Scoring 12-15 runs on him now won't make up for that. Not even close. But it's a start....

[Reggie Cleveland]

ouch

Not going to win many games when you can't get past the fifth inning.

[Reggie Cleveland]

Still hate Mike Hampton from 2000.

That was the last time anyone had heard of Mike Hampton.

[Guppy]

It was 11:13 on game day. Y'all have no one to blame but yourselves.

My fingers are tired and I can't start games with only two days rest.

[cardinalgirl]

why are the Cards having not only to play 18 games in a row or whatever, but on getaway days they have to play nights?

that's gay.

[Bleacher Creature]

why are the Cards having not only to play 18 games in a row or whatever, but on getaway days they have to play nights?

that's gay.

If they played a day game in Atlanta, very few people would show up. Heck, they have a hard enough time drawing people at night.

[cardinalgirl]

that's still gay.