NLDS: A pivotal Game 2? It must be Mulder's time

By wire services
Published October 6, 2005

ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals acquired Mark Mulder precisely for what he can provide at this time of the year.

The 16-game winner isn't the ace of the staff, getting the start today in Game 2 of the division series behind Chris Carpenter. But he has established a run of consistency.

Together, they give the Cardinals dominance they lacked in the postseason last fall.

"I think every pitcher, if you don't go out there expecting to win, expecting to do well, then you shouldn't be going out there," Mulder said. "You've got to be ready for these situations and you've got to thrive on it. You want to go out there for the big game."

The Padres will start Pedro Astacio, 35, who revived his career after being released by the Rangers this year. He was 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in the final month for the Padres.

"He's been consistent and it looks like he's gotten in the groove," manager Bruce Bochy said. "I can't say enough about the job he's done since we acquired him."

Mulder gives the Cardinals an opportunity to put a stronghold on a series that appeared to be the biggest mismatch in the first round of the postseason.

"We got him for the six months because you've got to qualify for postseason play," manager Tony La Russa said. "It's a great opportunity to step up like he has all year long."

Bochy plans to stack his lineup with right-handed hitters, including outfielders Eric Young and Ben Johnson and Xavier Nady at first base.

"Obviously the more lefties, the better for me," Mulder said. "When they throw an all right-handed lineup out there, you can get in the groove with certain pitches. Sometimes it helps."

Meanwhile, if the Padres get to Game 4, ace Jake Peavy is optimistic he can pitch again with a broken rib. Team doctors are considering a numbing injection into the break, on his right side, he said.

BRAVES-ASTROS: John Smoltz, who starts tonight's Game 2, is tired of answering questions about his shoulder, which suffered some wear from his team-high 2292/3 innings. He missed the last nine days of the regular season to rest for the playoffs.

"Everybody's putting me in a coffin," Smoltz said. "All I've got is a stiff shoulder. It's not that big a deal."

Manager Bobby Cox said: "John is not 100 percent. But if he's 95 percent, that's good enough. He is feeling good. He's thrown a lot in between this time (since his last start). It's just a matter of locating his fastball a little bit better."

Smoltz is making his first postseason start since Game 4 of the 1999 World Series against the Yankees. He lost that game 4-1 to Roger Clemens, his opponent tonight.

"My thoughts are I better be on my game," Smoltz said. "I think Game 4, the last time we hooked up in the World Series, he certainly was on his, and he beat us."

Clemens said he has recovered from a hamstring injury.

"I feel great," he said. "I got stronger."

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]