PITTSBURGH -- As Chuck Finley adjusted to being a National Leaguer for the first time, the St. Louis Cardinals' newest -- and oldest -- pitcher began realizing the benefits of being plunged back into a pennant race.

First, his record is 0-0, not the 4-11 mark he had with Cleveland -- or at least it is until Sunday, when he makes his Cardinals debut in Pittsburgh.

"I picked up 12 or 13 games in a matter of 24 hours,'' Finley said Saturday, tugging on the No. 31 uniform he will wear with St. Louis.

Second, he's now pitching for a first-place team that has a realistic chance of reaching the World Series, something that clearly wasn't going to happen this season with the retooling Indians.

The Indians dealt a high-profile pitcher for the second time in less than a month, sending Finley to St. Louis for prospect Luis Garcia and a player to be named. Last month, they traded ace Bartolo Colon to Montreal.

"Everyone I talked to told me this is one of the top two or three teams in the National League. It's a very attractive team,'' said Finley, who had spent his entire 17-year career in the AL with the Angels and Indians.

As trade talks heated up before the deal was completed Friday night, Finley figured he was going to the National League -- the only question was which team would get him.

"I spoke to our GM (Mark Shapiro) about the possibility of some teams that were very appealing, and he called me (Thursday) and I thought I was going to San Francisco,'' Finley said. "Then he called me 20 minutes later and I thought I was going to Cincinnati. Then he called me 20 minutes later and said I was going to St. Louis. Then he called and said to go with the team to Kansas City. It was a little roller coaster of emotions.''

Hours before he was to start against the Royals, the deal finally was done and Finley was told he indeed was going to St. Louis.

The 39-year-old Finley began picking up those vibes a couple of weeks ago, shortly after Darryl Kile's death.

"Once it got in my head, I kind watched them to see where they were,'' Finley said. "I like this team. I was excited about going to a team that has the talent the Cardinals have and the way they're playing.''

His new teammates welcomed him, too. Outfielder Jim Edmonds was especially enthusiastic about the trade, saying, "I know what kind of competitor he is. When you play a big game, you want him to have the ball.''

Finley's velocity hasn't dropped off and, he said, "I feel great -- I feel like I'm 37 again. I'm throwing the ball as well as I ever have. Where it's coming from, I don't know but I feel healthy.''

Finley's 4-11 record with the Indians is somewhat deceiving because of the limited run support he got there, though, he said, "That's an ugly record ... 4-11 is 4-11.''

But, noting the Cardinals scored nine runs Friday in a 12-9 loss to Pittsburgh, he said, "That's like six starts for me. Give me six or seven runs and I might be able to hold that.''

Finley just doesn't expect to generate any of those runs himself. He now must bat regularly for the first time, and that might not be pretty -- he is 0-for-25 lifetime with 14 strikeouts, all in interleague play.

"That's not going too good,'' he said. "I've had a few swings and misses, but I'll figure something out.''

Finley has a chance to reach the postseason for only the second time in his career. He finally made it last season, but went 0-2 against Seattle in the AL playoffs.

"That was awesome. That's what you play for,'' he said. "That's where I want to be.''