Carlos Beltran left Game 3 of the NLCS in the first inning with an apparent left knee strain, but the injury is not serious and he could return to the lineup for Game 4, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

Beltran is 3-for-7 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI through the first two games of the NLCS vs. the San Francisco Giants.

In nine games this postseason, Beltran is hitting .400 with three home runs and six RBI.

Beltran was replaced in the lineup by Matt Carpenter, who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning of Game 3 to put the Cardinals ahead 2-1 over the Giants. Carpenter is 2-for-8 with one home run in seven postseason games this year.

Beltran is officially listed as day-to-day by the Cardinals but could be ready for Thursday's Game 4 in St. Louis.