NEW YORK (AP) — Albert Pujols is getting a rest in the New York heat against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says he decided to give Pujols a night off Wednesday against the Mets in part because the slugger has been swinging well lately and he didn’t want Dickey’s dancing knuckler to throw off Pujols’ timing.
Lance Berkman replaced Pujols at first base and Jon Jay was set to start in Berkman’s usual spot, right field. It’s the first game Pujols hasn’t started since he came off the disabled list July 5.
The teams are scheduled to play at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, with expected temperatures in the mid-90s accompanied by sweltering humidity. St. Louis began a stretch of playing on 20 consecutive days Tuesday night.
