Pujols hopes to return to lineup on Tuesday

ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols now might be able to play on his own bat day.

The game between the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals was rained out Sunday and will be made up on May 29. Fans were supposed to receive Pujols bats Sunday, but last year's runner-up in the NL MVP race wasn't going to start because of a pulled left hamstring.

"Hey, I'm glad I'm not going to miss this game," Pujols said. "We're going to make this up the next time they come to town.

In the lineup manager Tony La Russa had posted, Kerry Robinson was playing left field instead of Pujols, who is batting .333 with two home runs and six RBIs. The Cardinals have a day off before starting a nine-game trip at Colorado on Tuesday.

"We don't like playing without him," La Russa said. "We'll see how he is on Tuesday, and hopefully he's OK."

Running a problem

Pujols, who missed six games his first two seasons, pinch hit on both Friday and Saturday. He's not having trouble at the plate, but running is a problem.

"I hate to be on the bench, but I want to be smart," Pujols said. "I don't want to go out there and miss a month or two. It's better to miss two or three days."

Pujols was fairly confident he'd be ready after the off day, even though the injury had only improved "a little bit" on Sunday.

"I think I'm going to play on Tuesday, for sure," he said.

The rainout might end up costing Woody Williams a start. The Cardinals' No. 2 starter had been scheduled to start the series opener on Tuesday in Colorado, but Jason Simontacchi, who had been set to oppose Roy Oswalt, was moved back to that dy.

La Russa wants Williams to pitch against the Astros, the Cardinals' biggest rival in the NL Central, next weekend in Houston. So instead of moving everybody back a day, Williams might just skip a turn.

"I don't want to miss a start," Williams said.

Williams has stiff neck

Williams has been bothered the last couple days by a stiff neck, although he insisted it wouldn't bother him pitching. If he gets skipped, Garrett Stephenson and Brett Tomko would work on Wednesday and Thursday, with Matt Morris pitching on five days' rest on Friday followed by Williams on Saturday on nine days' rest.

"I'm not sure we should push him for Wednesday," La Russa said.

The Astros' rotation will be unaffected by the rainout, manager Jimy Williams said. Roy Oswalt, scheduled to pitch on Sunday, will be shifted to Tuesday at home against the Reds.

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen threw in the bullpen Sunday and is scheduled to throw to hitters again Tuesday in Denver. Isringhausen, on the disabled list following offseason shoulder surgery, said he's been told he'll throw a few more times to Cardinals hitters and then go to Triple-A Memphis for a few tuneups.

"But as you know, plans change all the time," Isringhausen said. "We're just going day by day, it seems."

La Russa said Isringhausen just needs enough work to get sharp, and wasn't ready to put a timetable on his return. Cardinals closers were 2-for-3 in save opportunities, both saves going to Steve Kline, in the first five games.

Noteworthy

The game has been rescheduled for 3:10 p.m. CDT on May 29, which had previously been an off-day for both teams. It now will be the finale of a four-game series.

It was the 57th regular-season game to be postponed in the 37-year history of Busch Stadium, and the first since April 24, 2000.