ST. LOUIS — Jason Motte’s availability and his need to pitch tonight will govern his use more than any wish to get him back on the mound to cleanse the palate after his Opening Day blown save.

Motte, the St. Louis Cardinals rookie reliever, has not pitched since botching his first save opportunity of the season in Monday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The length of time since his last appearances makes it preferably to find him at least an inning of work in tonight’s game against Houston — regardless of if that inning is the ninth in a save situation or the seventh in a decisive jam.

“Because he’s an important part of the pitching staff,” manager Tony La Russa said. “I think he’s going to be fine.”

La Russa added about having Motte — or someone — emerge as the closer: “I’d prefer it some day be a main guy. We’ll take it as it with matchups (for now). There’s a plus to that, too.”

Motte allowed four runs on four hits in an inning of work Wednesday.

He said the horror of the inning was gone as soon as he settled himself into the chair in front of his locker. Sure, he’d “like to get back out there and put a zero up right away,” he said, but he’s been to able to wash away the blown save with flat-ground work and chatting up the veterans. He said he spoke to Ryan Franklin and Cal Eldred about how to have a Teflon approach to closing.

“It’s one of those things, and it can happen at any level,” he said. “You just have to let it go. What you want to do is go out and pitch. Let’s go. Let’s go back out there. Let’s get that zero. Let’s get back out there and get a zero.”

La Russa said tonight’s game sets up to at least get Motte some exposure. He won’t hesitate to use Motte in the seventh or eighth inning if the situation presents itself — nor would he shrink from putting the rookie back out there for a save situation, he said.

There is of course another option, La Russa said.

Starter Joel Pineiro could render the bullpen obsolete this evening.

“If Joel wants to pitch nine shutout innings tonight,” La Russa said, “then we’ll find a way to get Jason some other time this weekend.”

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