OAKLAND, Calif. — The "sooner" that manager Mike Shildt spoke about Saturday happened to be before the team left for the ballpark Sunday.
The Cardinals added Matt Carpenter to the active roster in time to bat leadoff for the series finale against the Oakland Athletics at their Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. To make room on the active roster for Carpenter, the Cardinals optioned first baseman Rangel Ravelo to Class AAA Memphis.
Carpenter returns to the team after spending nine games in the minors recovering from a bruised foot and working to improve his wayward swing.