The St. Louis Cardinals hope that first baseman Lance Berkman, currently on the DL for the third time this season, will begin a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Aug. 22. The Redbirds begin a nine-game homestand that day.
Berkman returned to the DL on Aug. 3 after experiencing soreness in his right knee, the same knee that was operated on earlier this year. His last DL stint in July without a rehab assignment, and his return to the team was brief and unproductive, posting a .198 batting average.
The Cardinals realize that Berkman will probably not reach 100 percent this season, but anticipate that he will spend about a week with Memphis, which would have him ready to be activated before the end of August. In order to avoid making a roster move, the team will likely wait until rosters expand on September 1 to bring him back.
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