On May 10, 2007, Wellemeyer (6-1, 3.16 ERA) was cut by Kansas City - the team with the worst record in the AL at the time - after going 0-1 with a 10.34 ERA in 12 relief outings. The Cardinals (35-25) claimed the right-hander off of waivers, and he went 3-3 with a 4.54 ERA in 32 games, including 11 starts.

Wellemeyer went 3-1 with a 3.65 ERA in those starts, and began 2008 in the rotation due to injuries to several starters. Originally expected to return to the bullpen, Wellemeyer has kept the Cardinals near the top of the NL Central of late by going 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA in his last six starts.

"I kind of know I belong," said Wellemeyer, who has pitched six or more innings in 10 of his 12 starts and limited opponents to a .221 batting average. "They gave me an opportunity and I'm going to make the best of it. I'm not trying to think too much out there, just pitching."

Wellemeyer was impressive again Friday, allowing one run and six hits in seven innings of a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh. He also helped himself offensively with a sacrifice fly in the second.

Wellemeyer is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and a save in seven relief appearances against Washington (24-35). He'll try to extend his winning streak by helping the Cardinals build on Tuesday's 6-1 win over Washington, a game slowed by more than 2 1/2 hours due to rain delays.

St. Louis hopes to have Albert Pujols back in the lineup after he left Tuesday's contest with tightness in his left calf. The All-Star first baseman was removed for pinch-runner Rick Ankiel after being hit in the left shoulder in the fourth inning.

"He felt a little something in his calf," Cards manager Tony La Russa said. "He took the at-bat, but Ank was going to play anyway. We'll have to see how his calf is (Wednesday)."

If Pujols can't play, rookie Joe Mather could get his first career start at first base. Mather, who started in right field Tuesday before moving to first after Pujols left the game, has gone 4-for-16 with an RBI in five games since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis.

The Nationals, who have been outscored 15-1 during a three-game slide, will try to regroup behind John Lannan (4-5, 3.52), who is 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in his last three starts while getting two runs of support in each contest.

The left-hander gave up two runs - both in the fourth inning - and five hits in six innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 5-2 loss at San Diego on Thursday.

"He had that rough inning and that was it," Nationals manager Manny Acta told the team's official Web site. "He made good pitches when he had to. I'll take that any time."

Lannan's only career start against the Cardinals on April 6 resulted in a 3-0 loss as he allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings.

The Nationals are hitting .170 (16-for-94) with only three doubles during their losing streak.