Jun. 23--Rotation situation
Todd Wellemeyer will throw during today's off day to give the club a final indicator whether he is ready to make a Thursday start against the Detroit Tigers.
Wellemeyer, out with elbow stiffness since taking a June 13 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies, completed a bullpen session Saturday without incident but is still listed along with rookie Mitchell Boggs for Thursday's start.
Braden Looper and Kyle Lohse are listed for Tuesday and Wednesday. Should Wellemeyer go Thursday, the club would decide whether to start Joel Pineiro on regular rest Friday before debuting Mark Mulder on Saturday. Duncan remained noncommittal about Boggs receiving another start after Saturday's win over the Red Sox, but an alignment of Boggs, Pineiro and Mulder is possible should Wellemeyer require more time. Tuesday begins a run of 13 days without a break, meaning a fifth starter will be needed twice.
Stavinoha debuts
The Cardinals on Sunday officially disabled shortstop Cesar Izturis, promoted outfielder Nick Stavinoha from Memphis and transferred Chris Carpenter from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Stavinoha, 26, received a rapid baptism as the team's designated hitter against lefthander Jon Lester. Stavinoha, who was batting .346 at Memphis, was robbed of his first major-league hit by left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury's diving catch in the fourth inning. Stavinoha got the milestone in his next plate appearance, a flare to right field during the Cardinals' two-run sixth inning.
A seventh-round selection, Stavinoha becomes the second member of the Cardinals' 2006 draft class to reach the major leagues, following Boggs (fifth round) by two weeks.
Pineiro's extra edge
Sunday offered Pineiro a chance to remind the Red Sox what they gave away last July when they dealt him to the Cardinals for prospect Sean Danielson.
Never given an opportunity to crack the Sox rotation last season before being outrighted to Class AAA Pawtucket, Pineiro (2-3, 3.86) did enough to receive a two-year, $13 million contract from the Cardinals last Oct. 15. On Sunday he did not allow a runner to second base through five innings and maintained a shutout until first baseman Kevin Youkilis halved a 2-0 lead by lifting a two-out solo home run into the boxes above the Green Monster.
"It was one of those things where I wanted to be myself, but I also had a little extra edge going out there against these guys," Pineiro said. "It was all in a good competitive way. Once you go to the bullpen you know you have to executive pitches if you're going to be out there for a while."
War Eagle Fever 
