The Cardinals left spring training with a pitching staff that will look much different six weeks from now. RHPs Joel Pineiro, Matt Clement and Chris Carpenter and LHP Mark Mulder, all starters, will come off the disabled list in either April, May or June. With the injuries and recoveries from surgery, the Cardinals had to go outside the organization to augment the rotation, and they signed RHP Kyle Lohse to a one-year deal.

ROTATION:

1. RHP Adam Wainwright

2. RHP Braden Looper

3. RHP Kyle Lohse

4. RHP Todd Wellemeyer

5. RHP Brad Thompson

Only staff ace Wainwright and Looper were in this rotation all of last season. There won't be any left-hander until Mark Mulder returns in May after his second shoulder surgery last September.

At the lower end of the rotation, Wellemeyer and Thompson are converted relievers, although Thompson started a lot in the minors.

BULLPEN:

RHP Jason Isringhausen (closer)

RHP Russ Springer

RHP Ryan Franklin

LHP Randy Flores

LHP Ron Villone

RHP Kyle McClellan

RHP Kelvin Jimenez or RHP Anthony Reyes

The bullpen is one of the strengths of the team, but the uncertainty of the rotation suggests the possibility that the bullpen, with several aged arms, could be overworked early in the season. With LHP Tyler Johnson out due to a shoulder problem, southpaw help may be sought. Ideally, Springer will handle the seventh, Franklin the eighth and Isringhausen the ninth, with the left-handers spotted as necessary.

LINEUP:

1. RF Skip Schumaker

2. LF Chris Duncan

3. 1B Albert Pujols

4. CF Rick Ankiel

5. 3B Troy Glaus

6. C Yadier Molina

7. 2B Adam Kennedy

8. Pitcher

9. SS Cesar Izturis

The keys to the success this lineup will be if Schumaker, getting his first shot at being a regular, can provide an impetus from the leadoff spot and whether 1B Albert Pujols will get enough protection batting third. CF Rick Ankiel, a pitcher a few years ago, will be the cleanup man against right-handed pitchers, while 3B Troy Glaus will bat fourth against left-handers. Both will have to be good for Pujols not to be walked 130 times.

RESERVES:

C Jason LaRue

INF Aaron Miles

INF D'Angelo Jimenez

OF Ryan Ludwick

OF Brian Barton

LaRue, who threw well in the spring, is expected to give the Cardinals their best backup to C Yadier Molina in several years. Miles, who hit .290 last year, will contend for the second base job if Adam Kennedy falters. Ludwick, a right-handed hitter, will platoon at any of the three outfield positions with the three starting left-handed hitters. Barton, a Rule 5 draftee, showed speed and extra-base punch this spring.

ROOKIE WATCH: OFs Colby Rasmus and Joe Mather made the biggest impressions as position players this spring. Rasmus, a first-round draft pick in 2005, may well be the Cardinals' center fielder midway through the season. Mather showed power and uncommon speed for a big man this spring, and he demonstrated he could play both outfield and first base. The most impressive of the young pitchers was RHP Kyle McClellan, a St. Louisan who will be the long reliever.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Joel Pineiro (right shoulder inflammation) pitched one big-league game in spring training before being shut down. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He should be ready in mid-April.

OF Juan Gonzalez (left abdominal strain) played only one game this spring. He was placed on the temporary inactive list March 26.

RHP Matt Clement (shoulder surgery in September 2006) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He was pitching in minor league games in late March, and he could be ready by the end of April.

LHP Mark Mulder (shoulder surgery in September 2007) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He was throwing bullpen sessions in late March, and he might be ready by mid- to late May.

RHP Chris Carpenter (Tommy John surgery in July 2007) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He was throwing bullpen sessions in late March, and he expects to be ready by late June or early July.

RHP Josh Kinney (broken right elbow in August 2007) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He will remain in Florida on rehab, although was throwing bullpen sessions in late March.

LHP Tyler Johnson (left shoulder tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He received a cortisone shot, but surgery is possible.

INF Brendan Ryan (right ribcage irritation) hasn't played since March 17. He will play against Class AA Springfield on March 28 or March 29, after which time the team will determine if he needs to open the season on the disabled list.

RF Juan Encarnacion (fractured eye socket in August 2007) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. He won't play this year.

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