Craig not expected to return before playoffs

MILWAUKEE -- Though Allen Craig continues to show progress as he heals from a foot sprain, the Cardinals are not expecting their first baseman to return to the field before the end of the regular season.

General manager John Mozeliak said that Craig is scheduled to be re-evaluated at the end of next week to determine the next step in his rehab process. Craig has been sidelined and wearing a walking boot since hobbling off the field in Cincinnati on Sept. 4. He suffered a mild left foot sprain in that game while awkwardly turning near first base.

The Cardinals are still hopeful that Craig will be back in the lineup for the postseason, though the organization continues to shy away from predicting a timetable.

Mozeliak said that the Cards may consider sending Craig down to the organization's instructional league to get at-bats against live pitching and play some innings in the field before reinserting him into the lineup. That league runs through Oct. 10.

Fortunate for the Cardinals, Craig's absence has thus far been mitigated by the job Matt Adams has done as a fill-in. With his two-run homer in the first inning on Saturday, Adams has gone deep seven times and driven in 14 runs since Craig went down. The Cardinals have won 11 of 16 games since the injury.