SAN FRANCISCO -- The Cardinals recalled first baseman/outfielder Rangel Ravelo from Triple-A Memphis ahead of Friday's series opener against the Giants, and center fielder Lane Thomas was optioned.

Bringing Ravelo up gives the Cardinals power off the bench in pinch-hitting situations, especially now that the Cardinals are back in a National League setting after playing the Mariners in Seattle.

In 71 games with Memphis this year, Ravelo hit .323 with 42 RBIs and nine home runs. The 27-year-old made his Major League debut June 17 after nine years in the Minor Leagues with various teams. In four games with the Cardinals, he was 1-for-6 with a single on June 19 against Miami for his first MLB hit. He was recently named to the Triple-A All-Star team along with Redbirds pitcher Jake Woodford, and catcher Andrew Knizner was added to the All-Star roster Friday.

Thomas was recalled June 29 and played in two games over the Cardinals' series in San Diego and Seattle, striking out twice in three at-bats. With three games to go until the All-Star break and just 1 1/2 games behind the Cubs and Brewers, tied atop the National League Central, the Cardinals opted for a bat.

"We were in an American League setting with Lane, and in that setting, you're more likely to pinch-run, maybe go in and use somebody straight up for defense," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. "Less likely to use a bat off the bench. With Ravelo, we feel like the bats will come more frequently and we'll take a little more offense."

Rehab roundup

• Reliever Mike Mayers (right lat strain) will throw back-to-back outings Friday and Saturday with Memphis as he continues his rehab assignment. In three rehab appearances -- all one inning each -- with Memphis, Mayers has a 3.00 ERA, allowing two hits and one run, while striking out one. His last appearance came Monday. Mayers, on the 60-day injured list for his injury sustained in April, is out of options, so the Cardinals have kept him on the rehab assignment to get him innings and make sure he stays sharp for when he comes back to the Majors in the future.

• Marcell Ozuna (fractured fingers) is continuing his rehab in St. Louis and improving this week, Shildt said. After the Cardinals left fielder jammed his middle and ring fingers getting back to the bag in a pickoff attempt June 29, this past week was crucial in the healing process, and it's been positive.

"Hopefully we'll know more after the All-Star break as for what kind of timetable we're looking at," Shildt said.