(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals could be without Albert Pujols this evening when they play the second of three games with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Pujols had to be helped off the field with a strained left calf in Tuesday's 7-2 win. Following the game he was flown back to St. Louis for more tests and, although the team has yet to put him on the disabled list, the Cards have reportedly summoned Chris Duncan from Triple-A Memphis.

So, with Pujols more than likely out of the lineup, second-year starter Braden Looper will try for his second win of the season against Cincinnati. Looper scattered seven hits and allowed two runs in six innings against the Reds on April 30, striking out four and walking two in the Cardinals' 5-2 win.

He is 3-1 with eight saves in 33 lifetime games against Cincinnati, posting a 3.47 earned run average in 49 1/3 innings.

In his most recent start on June 6, Looper was beaten, 6-1, by Houston, surrendering eight hits and two earned runs in six innings.

The Reds counter with rookie right-hander Johnny Cueto, who's won three straight starts.

Cueto was beaten, 7-2, in St. Louis on April 29, getting shelled for eight hits and six earned runs while retiring just five batters and watching his season's ERA rise from 4.05 to 5.40.

He defeated Florida, 11-3, to score his first career road win on June 6, allowing eight hits and three runs in six innings.

Cueto is 4-1 in seven home starts with a 3.60 ERA in 45 innings.

On Tuesday, Ryan Ludwick went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and four RBI, lifting St. Louis to the win. Pujols hit a two-run homer before the injury, while Rick Ankiel also hit a solo homer for the Cardinals, who have won three straight.

Mitchell Boggs (1-0) got the first win of his career as he went five innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-4 while Joey Votto hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who have dropped three of their last four.

Homer Bailey (0-2) got the loss as he was banged up for five runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.

Just one day after hitting the 600th home run of his career, Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-3 with a walk.

St. Louis took two of three from the Reds earlier in the season at Busch.