The Cardinals won eight of their first 13 games, with a striking trend developing. Starting pitchers were 8-1 and relievers 0-4, although those in the latter group were used more than they should have been because the starters had more trouble pitching deeper in the game in the second week of the season than they did the first week.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Blaine Boyer was acquired from Atlanta for Class AAA OF Brian Barton. Boyer, a reliever who worked in 76 games last year for Atlanta, was designated for assignment shortly after a walk-filled outing that resulted in a loss at Philadelphia. Barton, who hit .268 for the Cardinals as a Rule 5 player last year, was batting only .109 at Memphis.
--RHP Mitchell Boggs might start against Chicago on Saturday. This might mean that P.J. Walters, who made his major league debut against the Cubs on Friday, throwing 98 pitches in just four innings, might be headed back to Memphis to make room for newly acquired Blaine Boyer.
--RHP Adam Wainwright, who has never started against the Mets, has been moved back to Friday to start against Chicago, a team he beat Thursday in Wrigley Field.
--RHP Todd Wellemeyer, who will pitch Tuesday night for the Cardinals against New York, will have had seven days' rest because of a rainout and day off. RHP Joel Pineiro will have had six before he works Wednesday and RHP Kyle Lohse will have had five before he pitches on Thursday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Chris Carpenter (torn left oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He is likely out six to eight weeks.
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.
ROTATION:
RHP Adam Wainwright
RHP Kyle Lohse
RHP Todd Wellemeyer
RHP Joel Pineiro
RHP P.J. Walters
BULLPEN:
RHP Jason Motte (closer)
RHP Ryan Franklin
RHP Kyle McClellan
RHP Chris Perez
LHP Dennys Reyes
LHP Trever Miller
RHP Mitchell Boggs
CATCHERS:
Yadier Molina
Jason LaRue
INFIELDERS:
1B Albert Pujols
2B Skip Schumaker
SS Khalil Greene
3B David Freese
INF Brendan Ryan
INF Brian Barden
INF Joe Thurston
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Chris Duncan
CF Rick Ankiel
RF Ryan Ludwick
OF Colby Rasmus
