Now Chris Carpenter has the chance to put the St. Louis Cardinals back into the NL championship series.

Following Saturday's 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, St. Louis still had a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five NL playoff and the opportunity to close out the first-round series at home Sunday.

``Carpenter's a Cy Young candidate,'' shortstop David Eckstein said. ``We feel very confident.''

As usual, Carpenter, the one-time Toronto Blue Jay, was sparse with his words and businesslike in his approach.

``We're still at the advantage. They've got to win both games, we have to win one,'' he said. ``If I get prepared and come out and treat it like I normally treat it, and that's go out and execute and be prepared and compete, hopefully we can do the things that we did the two games in San Diego, get a couple runs and pitch well in the bullpen and do a good job and play a good game and win and celebrate at home with the fans.''

Carpenter (15-8), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, will be opposed by former Cardinal Woody Williams (12-5). Padres manager Bruce Bochy decided to give Game 1 loser Jake Peavy an extra day of rest on the theory the Padres need to win two games, anyway.

Carpenter was among the NL leaders in wins and ERA (3.09). He allowed just one run in 6 1-3 innings in beating the Padres Tuesday in San Diego.

During the final week of the regular season, San Diego roughed up Carpenter for six runs and 12 hits in seven innings in beating the Cardinals 7-5 in St. Louis. The loss came during the Cardinals' season-ending tailspin that nearly cost them a spot in the playoffs. It was the most hits Carpenter gave up all season and tied for the second-most runs.

``We know how good he is,'' Bochy said. ``This guy is one of the best pitchers in the game. If I had our way we wouldn't see him.''

The Padres had not seen Carpenter this season before the game on Sept. 26. San Diego is batting .293 (17-for-58) against Carpenter this year, including the playoffs.

``We got a chance to soak in what Carpenter did to us,'' Geoff Blum said. ``Now we have to make some adjustments. We have to relax and hit his mistakes. Hopefully, he'll make some mistakes.''

St. Louis has managed just three runs since the series opener and had just five hits Saturday.

If the Cardinals lose Sunday, Jeff Weaver likely would start Monday on three days' rest. Albert Pujols wants to finish off the Padres behind Carpenter.

``Well, he's our ace,'' Pujols said. ``Definitely you don't want to go back to San Diego for one game.''