Ellis could head to rehab assignment soon

PITTSBURGH -- Manager Mike Matheny indicated on Friday that Mark Ellis, who began the season on the disabled list with left knee patella tendinitis, will likely begin a Minor League rehab assignment after the Cardinals' home-opener festivities.

Ellis has not resumed hitting, but he is "throwing and fielding pretty well," Matheny said. The second baseman is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 11, though the Cardinals have not yet publically projected whether they expect him to return on that date.

Going out on a rehab assignment would allow Ellis to make up some of the at-bats he has lost while dealing with an ailing knee. He sat out for an eight-day stretch in mid-March after initially feeling discomfort in his knee and now hasn't played since March 26. Ellis tallied 30 at-bats in 12 Spring Training games. Since 2006, he had never left Spring Training with fewer than 53.