Worth noting

• Rafael Furcal's batting average (.299) slipped under .300 on Tuesday for the first time since April 15. After that day -- a 1-for-5 performance against the Cubs -- Furcal went on a tear to bring his average all the way up to .383 on May 13. During that span, Furcal hit .412 over 24 games. But the 34-year-old shortstop is batting .219 in his last 28 games. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said that cooling off period was almost inevitable for Furcal considering how well he was doing for so long.

"It's hard to keep up that pace," Matheny said. "But he's grinding, he's really pushing. We're going to have to find him a couple days. We're gonna do it, and I talked to him today and said, 'Just keep pushing, man.'"

• Matt Carpenter will join Triple-A Memphis on Thursday to begin his Minor League rehab assignment. Carpenter has been sidelined by a right oblique strain since May 23.

• Carlos Beltran is 7-for-15 with two homers and two RBIs on the Cardinals' current homestand entering Wednesday's game.