Albert Pujols was removed from the Cardinals' game on Saturday against the Cubs due to strained right oblique muscle. With one out in the top of the second inning, Pujols chased a short foul popup by Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez. He stopped short of catching the ball, and television replays showed that he grabbed at his right lower back on the play. Pujols will be re-examined Sunday and his status will be determined at that point. Cardinals assistant athletic trainer Greg Hauck and manager Tony La Russa came out to check on Pujols, but he remained in the game for the remainder of the second. His spot did not come up in the bottom of the third inning. When the Cardinals took the field defensively for the top of the third, John Rodriguez was inserted in left field and left fielder Hector Luna had moved to first base.