Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter will start Game 2 of the NL championship series against the Mets on Friday instead of the third game, with St. Louis manager Tony La Russa making the switch a day after the opener was rained out.

Carpenter, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in the Cardinals' first-round win over San Diego and is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA in five post-season starts. He started Sunday night when St. Louis finished off the Padres in four games.

Before Wednesday night's game was postponed, La Russa said a rainout probably wouldn't alter his rotation and he would likely stick with Carpenter in Game 3. But the manager changed his mind after a night's thought.

``It's his fifth day. That's when he's geared to pitch all year long,'' La Russa said Thursday.

Jeff Suppan was pushed back to Game 3, which is scheduled for Saturday in St. Louis. Rookie right-hander Anthony Reyes will start Game 4.

Rookie John Maine is scheduled to start Game 2 for the Mets in New York, followed by Steve Trachsel and Oliver Perez in the following two games.

Carpenter said La Russa told him Wednesday night that he was mulling a change.

``Especially at this time of year, you've got to be ready for change, you've got to be ready for anything,'' Carpenter said.

With the change, Carpenter is in line to pitch a possible Game 6 instead of Game 7. And both his potential starts would be on the road.

Carpenter was 7-4 with a 4.70 ERA on the road this season, and 8-4 with a 1.81 ERA at home.

© The Canadian Press, 2007