(Sports Network) - Rugged right-hander Braden Looper can make it six quality starts in a row tonight when the St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of an abbreviated two-game mid-week series at Busch Stadium.

Looper, a 33-year-old Oklahoma native, has allowed two runs or less in five straight starts and lasted seven innings in four straight for the Cardinals, who are trying to remain in contention in the National League Central Division.

St. Louis enters tonight's games in third place in the Central, 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs.

A 12-game winner in his first season as a starter in 2007, Looper moved within one win of tying that mark when he downed the Florida Marlins, 6-4, on Wednesday.

In that game, he allowed five hits and an earned run in seven innings while walking one and striking out five.

Over his last five starts, in which the Cardinals are just 2-3, Looper has thrown 33 innings while surrendering 28 hits and eight earned runs.

He is 3-2 with five saves in 28 career games against Pittsburgh, including four starts.

For the Pirates, Delaware-born right-hander Ian Snell tries again to escape the doldrums.

The 26-year-old has won just once in his last 10 starts, defeating Colorado, 8-4, on July 28.

He's 0-4 with five no-decisions in the other nine outings, however, including consecutive losses to Philadelphia and Cincinnati on August 9 and 14, in which he's given up 14 hits and five runs in 12 innings.

He got a no-decision after a five-inning stint against the Cardinals on July 13 after allowing five hits and four runs.

St. Louis won the game, 11-6.

Snell is 3-4 in 12 career meetings with the Cardinals, posting a 5.06 ERA in 64 innings of work.

On Monday in Pittsburgh, Steve Pearce and Jack Wilson got to the Mets' bullpen in the eighth, combining to knock in three runs in the inning to lift the Pirates to a 5-2 win over New York in the finale of a four-game set.

Wilson finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI while Adam LaRoche contributed his 16th homer of the season, a two-run shot to help the Pirates avoid a sweep and snap a four-game skid.

Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm went seven strong innings, giving up two runs on five hits.

The Pirates' best starter this season, Maholm struck out four and walked three in his third consecutive quality start. Sean Burnett (1-1) earned the win after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.

John Grabow earned his fourth save of the season, working around two walks to pitch a scoreless ninth.

On Sunday in Cincinnati, Edinson Volquez hurled seven innings of shutout ball and the Reds salvaged the final contest of a three-game series with a 7-3 victory over the Cardinals.

Kyle Lohse (13-6) took the loss surrendering three runs on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts for the Cards.

The surprise right-hander has now won just once in six starts after a 12-2 start. Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker had two hits and an RBI each while Troy Glaus added an RBI hit in defeat.

St. Louis has split its 12 meetings with the Bucs this season.