Cardinals drop in for two games at PNC

[StlCards4ever515]

St. Louis (6-4) at Pittsburgh (4-8), 6:05 p.m. CT

With the Cubs looming on the schedule, two games in Pittsburgh might not seem like a big deal for the Cardinals. But the brief stopover at PNC Park may tell the Redbirds a great deal about their starting rotation.
Matt Morris makes his first start of the season on Tuesday as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, but before that may come an even more closely watched game. Mark Mulder, who has yet to find his star form in two outings for St. Louis, makes his first road start in a Cards uniform.

Two rough starts wouldn't ordinarily be cause for concern, but the problem is what preceded them. Mulder faded badly down the stretch in 2004, so until he gets back to top-level pitching, he will be considered something of a question mark.

The two games in Pittsburgh close out a five-game road trip for St. Louis. On Wednesday the Cards welcome rival Chicago for two games, followed by a weekend series at home against the Astros.

Pitching matchup
STL: LHP Mark Mulder
• 0-1, 8.18 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 3.38 in 2004 vs. PIT

PIT: LHP Dave Williams
• 1-0, 1.59 ERA in 2005
• Did not face STL in 2004

Player to watch
Albert Pujols absolutely wears out the Pirates, especially in Pittsburgh. He's a lifetime .388 hitter at PNC Park with 14 homers and 42 RBIs in 139 at-bats. Pujols' career slugging percentage in Pittsburgh is a ridiculous .777.

On television
• STL: FOX Sports Net Midwest
• PIT: FOX Sports Net Pittsburgh

On radio
• STL: KMOX AM-1120
• PIT: KDKA AM-1020

Quick hits
Mulder is 2-0 in two career starts against the Pirates. ... Scott Rolen's RBI single in the fourth inning on Sunday was his first hit with a runner in scoring position in 2005 -- he had been 0-for-11. ... Reggie Sanders, who played for the Pirates in 2003, has 21 homers in 280 career at-bats at PNC. ... Mulder, an excellent hitter in college, is 1-for-25 lifetime at the plate in the big leagues. His only Major League hit came in 2001.

On deck
• Tuesday: Cardinals at Pirates, 6:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Cardinals vs. Cubs, 6:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Cardinals vs. Cubs, 12:10 p.m. CT

[StlCards4ever515]

Mulder got the win, In a 11-1 ball game! Mulder had a nice start tonight going 8 innings giving up 1 run and only allowing 2 hits. Great Start Mulder!