Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said that shortstop Edmundo Sosa, who took a pitch off his right hand a week ago, was available to come off the bench on Friday night, if necessary, and would be starting a game before the weekend series with the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium is over.
Sosa took batting practice outside for the first time being hit by a pitch in Chicago this past Friday.
Catcher Yadier Molina, who has had a sore right shoulder, also will play before the weekend set is completed, Shildt said. But he isn’t catching on Friday as Andrew Knizner handles the first start of the season of righthander Dakota Hudson, who gained a relief win in Chicago last week and is making his first start since suffering an elbow injury last September, necessitating Tommy John surgery.