Freese out for second day as thumb heals

SAN DIEGO -- David Freese remained out of the Cardinals' lineup for a second straight day on Tuesday due to continued swelling in the area around his right thumb that required three stitches on Sunday.

Freese said that the stitches will be taken out Friday, though the third baseman believes he'll be able to play before then. He described his hand Tuesday as "better" than it was a day earlier.

Freese suffered a gash near his right thumb on Sunday when he was spiked while chasing down and applying a tag on Milwaukee's Norichika Aoki in the first inning. Freese played the rest of the game but needed three stitches to close the cut afterward.

Manager Mike Matheny said he chose to hold Freese out for a second straight day primarily because the padding and bandage on Freese's right hand could affect his ability to throw.

"He wasn't quite ready to go and let the ball go clean out of his hand on the throw," Matheny said. "He's swinging pretty good. There's a chance he could rip it open. We're going to watch him today and see how he responds."