The Cardinals will place first baseman Lance Berkman on the disabled list, general manager Jon Mozeliak told reporters before the team's game with the Reds on Thursday afternoon.
Berkman is struggling with a left calf strain that caused him to miss four games before returning to the lineup Tuesday night. Berkman re-injured the calf trying to get a popup in foul territory during Wednesday's victory over the Reds.
After the game, Berkman told reporters a DL trip was likely. He originally hurt his calf legging out a triple on April 10 in Cincinnati and he has rested it since.
The team will activate outfielder Skip Schumaker, who had been sidelined with a right oblique injury since spring training. Schumaker is scheduled to join the Cardinals in Pittsburgh on Friday, where St. Louis starts a series with the Pirates.
Berkman, like pretty much every other Cardinal, was off to a hot start this season, hitting .348/.500/.522 in seven games. Rookie Matt Carpenter, 26, will get most of the playing time at first base. In 10 games and 27 plate appearances, he's hit .375/.370/.750 with a home run and 11 RBI.
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