Apr. 

Four batters into Sunday's game, pitcher Todd Wellemeyer had jeopardized theCardinals' chances of sweeping the Chicago Cubs, and each batter provided examples why there are recurring concerns four starts into his season. 

With his team having lost four straight games, Chicago Cubs righthander Rich Harden did what good, veteran big-league starters do. 

Cincinnati --- TheBraves might not have to deal with Barry Bonds again, but someone just as imposing will step into the batter's box the next three nights at Turner Field. 

Kosuke Fukudome didn't want a birthday celebration from his teammates. 

After having their nine-game home winning streak halted, the St. 

Inasmuch as Busch Stadium, the site for the 2009 All-Star Game, was the only major-league venue to have any ballots available for three days last week, it would stand to reason that severalCardinals would be leading in the early returns. 

WHO'S UP - Cito Slickers 

It's only April, not September, and Baseball's long expedition always exposes the counterfeit contenders. 

The Chicago Cubs, two-time National League Central Division champions, are down to 22 - and perhaps fewer - healthy players and they had a pitcher who was in Class A last year facing Albert Pujols with the bases loaded in the seventh inning Saturday. 

Albert Pujols put everything he could into the pitch from Cubs rookie reliever David Patton, and the result was hardly a surprise. 

The lineup changed, only the result stayed the same. 

The St. 

The St. 

Despite hacking through what he called quot;the bird flu,quot; Adam Wainwright said he could have pitched all night.