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Pujols not likely to be left on bench against Phillies

Jul 13, 2007 - 1:40 PM St Louis (40-45) at Philadelphia (44-44) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Albert Pujols is looking to respond to his noticeable absence from the batter's box in the All-Star Game when the St. Louis Cardinals face the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

Pujols was the only National League position player not to participate in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the American League in the Midsummer Classic. The 2005 NL MVP is batting .310 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI this season.

Kip Wells (3-11, 5.92 ERA) will take the mound for St. Louis, which has won five of its last eight contests.

The 30-year-old Wells, who is in his first season with St. Louis, has not started since June 24 as he is enduring the worst season of his career.

The righthander will try to shut down a talented Philadelphia lineup that includes the reigning NL MVP, Ryan Howard, who was not selected to the All-Star Game.

Howard has posted just a .256 batting average with 21 home runs and 67 RBI on the season.

The Phillies will send the 44-year-old Jamie Moyer (7-7, 4.43) to the mound. The lefthander gave up five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

Philadelphia has lost four of its last six contests and sits in third place in the NL East, 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading New York Mets.