(My Sportsbook) - Right-hander Joel Pineiro goes for a National League-best fifth win today, when the St. Louis Cardinals visit Nationals Park for the third test of a four-game set with the Washington Nationals.

A veteran of seven seasons with Seattle from 2000 to 2006, Pineiro split 2007 between Boston and St. Louis before establishing himself as a full-time NL starter last year, beginning 25 games with the Cardinals.

He hit the ground running in the Gateway City in 2009, defeating Houston in his initial outing on April 10 and following it up with defeats of Arizona, the New York Mets and Atlanta. Overall, Pineiro has allowed 30 hits and 11 runs in 26 1/3 innings.

Pineiro shares the league lead in wins with Chad Billingsley of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo, both of whom have four wins in five starts.

The 30-year-old lost his lone start against the Nationals back in 2007 after giving up seven hits and four earned runs in five innings.

Washington goes with young righty Shairon Martis, who reached the majors last season and made five appearances, including four starts.

Martis opened this year with a three-inning appearance against the Atlanta Braves on April 10, then strung together consecutive wins against Philadelphia and the Braves on April 16 and 21.

He was hit hard in a return match against the Phillies on Monday, getting touched for eight hits and seven runs in five innings of the Nationals' 13-11 loss.

Overall, the 22-year-old has surrendered 24 hits and 16 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings. He has never faced the Cardinals.

St. Louis has taken the first two games of this series and subdued Washington, 6-2, on Friday. Chris Duncan finished 3-for-4 with a two-run homer to lead the way for the Cards.

Albert Pujols also had three hits and a home run while scoring three times for the Cardinals, who have now won four of their last five overall. Ryan Ludwick and Joe Thurston also went deep for St. Louis, which got seven innings of six- hit, two-run ball from starter Todd Wellemeyer (2-2) for the win.

Willie Harris hit a two-run homer for the Nationals, who fell for the fourth time in five contests. Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-4, extending his Nationals- record hitting streak to 20 games.

Nats rookie Jordan Zimmermann (2-1) surrendered eight hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings, fanning six without a walk, but served up three home runs in the loss.

St. Louis won five of six meetings with Washington last season.