The Cardinals have placed outfielder Brian Barton on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle. Barton has played in 69 games for the Cardinals this season and he is 35 for 130 (.269 avg, .748 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 2 homers, 13 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Barton will be replaced on the Cardinals’ roster by outfielder Nick Stavinoha who has played in 14 games for the Cardinals this season in which he was 6 for 28 (.214 avg, .447 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs.

The Cardinals have placed right reliever Jason Isringhaused on the 15-day disabled list with a partially torn tendon in his right elbow. Isringhausen’s season is over and so might his career as he has told teammates that he will likely quit if he needs surgery. He has pitched in 42 games for the Cardinals this season and he is 1-5 with 12 saves, a 5.70 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. In his 7 seasons with the Cardinals he has definately given them their money’s worth as he worked in 401 games in which he was 17-20 with 217 saves, a 2.98 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Isringhausen will be missed as he was a good pitcher for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have placed righty starting pitcher Chris Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list with a right posterior shoulder strain. This is a shame as Carpenter has pitched well since returning from Tommy John Surgery. Carpenter has started 3 games this season for the Cardinals and he is 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Brad Thompson will replace Carpenter in the starting rotation for now. He has pitched in 19 games (3 starts) for the Cardinals this year and he is 4-2 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Cardinals have activated outfielder Brian Barton off of the D.L. to replace Carpenter on the active roster. Barton has played in 63 games for the Cardinals this season and he is 30 for 122 (.246 avg, .710 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers, 11 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

30-year old Ryan Ludwick just needed a chance to show what he could do and the Cardinals really gave it to him this season. Ludwick has played in 112 games for the Cardinals this season and he is 120 for 392 (.306 avg, .991 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 29 homers, 87 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He made the All-Star team in his first season as a major league starting player which is saying something. Ludwick has now played in 232 games in his two years with the Cardinals and he is 201 for 695 (.289 avg) with 121 runs scored, 43 homers, 139 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Those are really eye popping numbers that Ludwick has put up for the Cardinals. Prior to coming to the Cardinals last season, Ludwick had played 4 years in the majors appearing in only 104 games in which he was 79 for 334 (.237 avg) with 38 runs scored, 14 homers, 44 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Don’t look for Ludwick to slow down any time soon as he is running with his big opportunity that the Cardinals have given him.

The Cardinals have signed 28-year old switch hitting Felipe Lopez to a contract covering the remainder of the season. Lopez played in 100 games for the Nationals this season and he was 76 for 325 (.234 avg, .619 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 2 homers, 25 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The thinking here is that Lopez will push Cesar Izturis to the bench eventually as he has a better bat and upside. Lopez has now played in 830 games in his major league career and he is 778 for 3,045 (.256 avg, .713 OPS) with 418 runs scored, 67 homers, 313 RBIs and 105 stolen bases. This was a nice low risk/high reward signing for the Cardinals.