ST. LOUIS -- Intrigued by the opportunity to have rookie Jack Flaherty start the opening game of a key weekend series against the Brewers, the Cardinals used their flexibility with Luke Weaver's schedule to realign their rotation plans.
Initially slated to start on Thursday, Flaherty will now go on Friday against a team that sits ahead of the Cardinals in both the National League Central and Wild Card races. Weaver moves up to take Thursday's start. He'll be pitching on eight days' rest after skipping a start on Sunday due to a cut on his right index finger.
"It serves a lot of purposes," interim manager Mike Shildt said of the swap. "[It's] so [Weaver] doesn't go so long. He's physically able to do it. Gives Jack an extra day. It just made sense across the board." And? "It happens to line up where Jack pitches against the Brewers."
There's reason for the Cardinals to pursue that matchup. Flaherty has struck out 22 batters and limited the Brewers to two earned runs on seven hits and three walks in 12 innings at Miller Park this year.

Fowler to stay the course
Team physician George Paletta examined William Fowler's fractured left foot and recommended that Fowler continue with the rehab plan initially prescribed to him. That includes putting no weight on his foot for the rest of the month and then moving into a cast for a period of two to three weeks.
Based on those time frames, the best-case scenario is for Fowler to shed that boot with two weeks left in the season. The Cardinals have not yet made a determination about the likelihood of Fowler returning to play in 2018.
Webb optioned
The Cardinals swapped one lefty reliever for another on Wednesday by optioning Tyler Webb to Triple-A Memphis and activating Brett Cecil from the 10-day disabled list.
Webb made a strong impression during his first stint in St. Louis. He scattered six hits and did not allow a run in 7 2/3 innings. Webb will be back with the club when roster expands in September, if not sooner.
"Tyler did all that he needed to do to stay on this ballclub," Shildt said.

Cecil returns following four scoreless rehab appearances. He has compiled a 5.70 ERA in 27 appearances with the Cards this season
Rehab roundup
In what could be their final test before heading out on rehab assignments, right-handers Carlos Martinez (right shoulder strain) and Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) threw off the mound at Busch Stadium on Wednesday.
Martinez, who will return from the DL as a reliever, is expected to start his rehab assignment before the end of the week. That sets him up to rejoin the club during next week's road trip.
Wacha's return isn't so imminent. He will need multiple rehab appearances in order to stretch out his arm to be able to carry a starter's workload. Wacha hasn't pitched since June 20.
Shildt said that Adam Wainwright is scheduled to throw another inning for Class A Advanced Palm Beach (Fla.) on Thursday. Wainwright, who has been sidelined by a right elbow injury since May, threw nine pitches in a rehab appearance on Monday and then completed his work by throwing 11 more pitches in the 'pen.
Reliever Dominic Leone made his sixth appearance for Memphis on Tuesday as he continues a rehab assignment with the Triple-A club. Leone walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning.
Hall of Fame weekend
The Cardinals will induct three new members -- Ray Lankford, Vince Coleman and Harry Brecheen -- into their Hall of Fame on Saturday. The 3 p.m. CT ceremony at Ballpark Village will be open to the public, and admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests can begin touring the Cardinals' Hall of Fame and Museum at 10 a.m., and Ballpark Village will open one hour later. Following the induction ceremony, the honorees will relocate to Busch Stadium, where they will be recognized during a pregame ceremony ahead of the 6:15 p.m. first pitch.