(My Sportsbook) - The St. Louis Cardinals will try to build a new winning streak this evening, when they begin a three-game series with the hosting Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

The Cardinals entered Sunday's series finale with Chicago riding a five-game winning streak and having also posted a win in each of their last nine home contests. However, St. Louis was dealt a taste of its own medicine, getting slammed 10-3 to halt both streaks.

It marked the most runs the Cardinals have allowed in a single game this year. The club is second in the National League with a 3.86 team earned run average.

Meanwhile, St. Louis' offense put up its fewest runs in a game since a 2-1 win in Arizona on April 13. The club leads the majors with a .299 team batting average and its 115 runs scored are most the NL.

Yadier Molina and Rick Ankiel each hit a solo homer for the Cardinals, while Albert Pujols was walked in three of his four plate appearances. Pujols is hitting .450 (9-for-20) over his last six games with three homers and 11 RBI.

Todd Wellemeyer (1-2) gave up six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in five innings of work.

The Cards turn tonight to Joel Pineiro, who has won his first three decisions to start a season since 2002. Pineiro, then with Seattle, began that campaign in the bullpen and picked up a victory before shifting to the rotation and winning three decisions in a row to begin May.

The 30-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 4.12 ERA this year and bested the Mets on Wednesday with eight innings of two-run ball. He is 0-1 with a save and 8.44 ERA in five outings (2 starts) lifetime versus Atlanta.

The Braves were going for a sweep of their three-game series with Cincinnati on Sunday, but failed to turn the trick thanks to an 8-2 loss. Kenshin Kawakami (1-3) was saddled with the loss after being touched for eight runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings.

David Ross belted a solo homer for the Braves, who had a three-game win streak end. Ross is hitting .389 on the season with two homers and five RBI, and the Braves hope he stays hot with starting catcher Brian McCann on the 15-day disabled list due to a left eye infection.

Brandon Jones also drove in a run and Chipper Jones collected three hits in the loss.

The Braves turn to 23-year-old Jair Jurrjens, who went 2-1 in his first three starts prior to a no-decision versus Washington on Wednesday. Jurrjens threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing only six hits while lowering his ERA to 1.42. However, Atlanta didn't win it until a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning led to a 1-0 victory.

The right-handed Jurrjens lost his only other career start versus St. Louis, giving up three runs and seven hits over seven innings of work.

The Cardinals have won seven of their last nine versus the Braves and won three of four at Turner Field last season.