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Cardinals-Padres Preview

Aug 20, 2009 - 6:47 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

St. Louis (69-53) at San Diego (51-71), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals added a future Hall of Famer to their roster in hopes of bolstering an already talented rotation.

If John Smoltz can rediscover his old form the way Joel Pineiro has in St. Louis, the Cardinals will surely be thrilled.

One night after signing Smoltz, the NL Central-leading Cardinals will send the red-hot Pineiro to the mound Thursday night as they open a four-game series in San Diego looking to extend their dominance of the Padres.

St. Louis (69-53) enters this weekend set with 10 wins in its last 12 contests and a six-game division lead over the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals beat the NL-best Dodgers 3-2 on Wednesday after Matt Holliday's go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

That victory came just hours after the Cardinals announced they had signed the 42-year-old Smoltz. The former Cy Young winner, who cleared waivers following his release by Boston earlier this week, is expected to start Sunday against the Padres (51-71). After that, he may remain in the rotation a few turns or be moved to the bullpen. Smoltz was 2-5 with an 8.33 ERA in eight starts for the Red Sox.

"We're excited," general manager John Mozeliak said. "Getting to add John Smoltz to this organization was something that was a unique opportunity for us ... When you look at what this pitcher has accomplished ... it was too inviting not to take a chance on."

Smoltz, who had said he preferred to go to a team where he could start, is 212-152 with a 3.32 ERA and 154 saves in 21 seasons. An eight-time All-Star, he's the only pitcher in major league history with 200 wins and 150 saves.

For now, he'll take over the No. 5 spot in a rotation that has the second-lowest ERA in the majors behind San Francisco.

Pineiro (11-9, 3.25 ERA) has been a big part of that success, going 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his last eight starts - all of which the Cardinals have gone on to win. The right-hander allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-4 win over the Padres on Saturday.

He's reached double digits in wins for the first time since 2003, when he won 16 for Seattle, and his ERA is nearly two runs lower than last year's 5.15.

"What he does a great job of is locating his sinker," San Diego's David Eckstein, a former Cardinal, said. "He's not afraid of working both sides of the plate."

The Cardinals haven't lost one of Pineiro's starts since he gave up five runs against Minnesota on June 28. He's struck out 11 in his last two outings while only issuing one walk.

Pineiro is 4-1 with a 3.52 ERA in his career against the Padres. He was opposed by Tim Stauffer (1-5, 3.50) in last week's start, and will do so again Thursday. Stauffer gave up four runs and seven hits Saturday while striking out seven over five innings of the loss.

The right-hander has lost three straight outings, pitching five innings each time.

San Diego will hope for better luck against Pineiro than it had against Rich Harden in a 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

After scoring 10 runs while winning the first two games of the series, the Padres managed one hit off Harden in seven scoreless innings. They scored their only run in the ninth on an RBI single from Chase Headley.

The Cardinals have defeated the Padres eight straight times, including a three-game sweep last weekend in St. Louis.