JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa addressed the club's muddled closer situation Thursday before its Grapefruit League game against the visiting Red Sox at Roger Dean Stadium.

"Guys go out there and we see how they do," La Russa said. "If one guy emerges, then he's the closer."

So far this spring, no one has "emerged," and La Russa hinted that unless someone does in the next three weeks, the club's closer role could be by committee at the start of the regular season.

"You evaluate what you see -- the young guys, especially," La Russa said. "They're trying to make this club. That's why you give them work during Spring Training. We'll wait and see."

The Cardinals' bullpen had a National League-worst 31 blown saves last season, not a good start to the post-Jason Isringhausen era. Entering Spring Training, right-hander Chris Perez was considered a slight favorite to take over the closer's role to supplant Isringhausen, who is now with the Tampa Bay Rays. Perez, 23, recorded seven saves and had a 3.46 ERA in 2008, and in five innings of work this spring, he has allowed only two hits, one earned run, given up two walks and struck out four.

Perez, however, lacks experience, something that La Russa loves in a closer. Right-hander Jason Motte also is in the equation and has posted similar numbers as Perez so far this spring, including picking up his first save Tuesday against the Tigers. Motte, 26, allowed only one earned run in 12 outings (0.82 ERA) last September after being called up from Triple-A Memphis.

Right-handers Josh Kinney and Ryan Franklin also could emerge as the Cardinals' closer. Franklin has the most experience of the four, but he was only 17-for-25 in save opportunities last year after Isringhausen, the Cardinals' all-time saves leader, was injured. Kinney was a key member of the 2006 World Series championship team, but he has missed most of the past two seasons after having Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery.

Kinney and Motte were scheduled to come out of the bullpen as part of the Cardinals' pitching rotation against the Red Sox.

Hot spring bats: The Cardinals entered Thursday's game against the Red Sox with a .300 team batting average this spring, tops among all NL clubs and second only in MLB to the Angels (.314). Chris Duncan, who started at first base for St. Louis, ranked fifth among NL clubs in Grapefruit League play with a .370 batting average. Outfielder Joe Mather leads NL hitters with 11 RBIs.

Classic updates: Jose Oquendo's Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic team won Pool D on Wednesday and will play Team USA on Saturday in Round 2 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. Right-handed pitcher Adam Ottavino returned to Cardinals camp Thursday after Italy was eliminated from the tournament. St. Louis' roster is now at 44 with first cuts and Classic departures/arrivals.