The St. Louis Cardinals' series victory over the Cincinnati Reds Sunday night was only marred by Albert Pujols's late early exit—the slugging first baseman limped down the line following a ground ball in the eighth inning and was removed shortly afterward, replaced by Lance Berkman at first base.
The Cardinals don't play Monday and return to action Tuesday, on the road against the Houston Astros. Barring any further updates, Albert Pujols is likely to be ready for the series in one of his favorite places to hit and drive closers to nervous breakdown. The injury, it turns out, was to his hamstring, and the exit was only precautionary. Pujols is likely day-to-day, which always seems true; he's been durable his entire career, but he can't run to first base without limping or wincing on the way.
For all that, Pujols played 159 games in 2010 and 160 in 2009; he last missed significant time in 2008, when he played in 148 games, and has only played less than that once, when he had a stint on the DL in 2006.