ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Cardinals will finally get what they begged for during most of Monday's 5-1 loss to the LA Dodgers. Albert Pujols is in the starting lineup.
The 41-year-old who was drafted by St. Louis, spent the first 11 seasons of his first-ballot Hall of Fame career there and won two World Series with the Cardinals will bat third and play first base. First pitch at Busch Stadium is at 6:45 p.m.
The move is not a surprise with left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ on the mound for St. Louis. Pujols often gets started against lefties in manager Dave Roberts' lineup.
The most notable part of the Cardinals lineup is that first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is getting the day off and Matt Carpenter starts in his place:
It will be the first time that Pujols bats third in a regular season game at Busch Stadium since Sept. 25, 2011 when St. Louis beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2. That Sunday afternoon he was hitless in four at bats.
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He also hit third in game 7 of the 2011 World Series, when he scored two runs in the championship-clinching game.
Pujols also made three starts at Busch Stadium in 2019 with the Dodgers. The eventful reunion eight years in the making began with a standing ovation and hug from catcher Yadier Molina at home plate and included a home run by Pujols.
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