MILWAUKEE -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, wanting to give regular catcher Yadier Molina a start off before he presumably plays four in a row in Atlanta, will give rookie Matt Pagnozzi his first big-league start tonight.

Pagnozzi, nephew of former Cardinals Gold Glover Tom Pagnozzi, hit .242 with one homer at Class AAA Memphis this year and threw out 17 of 55 basestealers.

He appeared in six games at the end of last season with the Cardinals and was hitless in three at-bats. Pagnozzi is considered a better handler of pitchers and thrower than fellow rookie Bryan Anderson although La Russa has said that Anderson has improved in both defensive areas. 

Only one lefthanded hitter, besides starting pitcher Jaime Garcia, will oppose Milwaukee veteran lefthander Chris Capuano tonight in the final of a three-game series at Miller Park.

Colby Rasmus will hit second and play center field. Lefthanded-hitting Jon Jay will sit as Nick Stavinoha plays right field. And righthanded-hitting Tyler Greene will be at second base instead of lefthanded-hitting Skip Schumaker.

Switch-hitting Felipe Lopez is six for 13 against Capuano but is eight for his last 75 overall. Capuano has held  lefthanded hitters to a .220 average while righthanders are batting .290.

The lineups: 

Cardinals:

Greene 2b

Rasmus cf

Pujols 1b

Holliday lf

Stavinoha rf

Feliz 3b

Ryan ss

Pagnozzi c

Garcia p

 

Milwaukee:

Weeks 2b

Hart rf

Braun lf

Fielder 1b

McGehee 3b

Cain cf

Escobar ss

Lucroy c

Capuano p