1. RHP Adam Wainwright

2. RHP Kyle Lohse

3. RHP Todd Wellemeyer

4. RHP Chris Carpenter

5. RHP Joel Pineiro

ROTATION ANALYSIS: The rotation is all right-handed, but these right-handers appear, for the most part, to be able to deal with left-handed hitters. Carpenter, the former Cy Young Award winner, seems to have recaptured most of his form of three and four years ago after missing virtually all of 2007 and 2008.

Lohse won 15 games in his first season as a Cardinal, netting him a $41 million, four-year contract when the Cardinals hastily signed him the day after the 2008 regular season ended. Wellemeyer won 13 in his first full season as a starter and could do better. Wainwright should be available for a whole season after missing two months in 2008 with a sprained middle finger.

BULLPEN:

RHP Jason Motte (closer)

RHP Ryan Franklin

RHP Josh Kinney

RHP Kyle McClellan

RHP Brad Thompson

LHP Dennys Reyes

LHP Trever Miller

BULLPEN ANALYSIS: Motte won the closer job in spring training. RHP Chris Perez, impressive at times last year as a rookie closer, will start the season in Class AAA Memphis. McClellan and Thompson will see lots of work in the first six weeks, when the Cardinals have just one off day in the first 35 days of the season.

LINEUP:

1. 2B Skip Schumaker

2. CF Rick Ankiel

3. 1B Albert Pujols

4. LF Chris Duncan

5. RF Ryan Ludwick

6. SS Khalil Greene

7. C Yadier Molina

8. 3B David Freese

9. Pitcher

LINEUP ANALYSIS: Manager Tony La Russa, who did it all last season, still would prefer to hit a position player ninth as a second leadoff man but will do that only if rookie CF Colby Rasmus is in the lineup or if 2B Skip Schumaker, a left-handed hitter, is facing a left-handed pitcher.

The Cardinals led the National League in hitting last year at .281 but ranked only fourth in runs scored. As always, protection for Pujols is paramount. Duncan will get the first crack at it this year.

RESERVES:

C Jason LaRue

INF Brendan Ryan

INF Brian Barden

INF Joe Thurston

OF Colby Rasmus

RESERVES ANALYSIS: The uncertainty over the third base situation had an effect on the makeup of the bench, which includes three reserve infielders and just one backup outfielder. INF/OF Joe Mather was the third baseman when camp began but hit (or didn't hit) his way out to the minors. The final spot on the roster went to Barden instead of Mather.

ROOKIE WATCH: OF Colby Rasmus showed his varied skills in stretches this spring, although he struck out too much and didn't play consistently well in the field. Manager Tony La Russa was trying to figure how to get him enough at-bats to warrant keeping him because Rasmus likely will start the season behind veteran OFs Chris Duncan, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. RHP Jason Motte seemed to have seized at least part of the closer's job with an almost spotless spring. 3B David Freese started slowly after an Achilles tendon injury in the offseason, but he appeared to win the third base spot (with Troy Glaus out after surgery) in the last couple of weeks of the spring.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Chris Carpenter (left calf discomfort) was scratched from his April 3 start after getting hurt while running on March 30. The ailment is believed to be minor.

3B Troy Glaus (right shoulder surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He didn't heal as quickly as was hoped, and he may not play before July.

LHP Jaime Garcia (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He likely will miss all or nearly all of the 2009 season.