Worth noting

• St. Louis optioned shortstop Ryan Jackson and right-hander Keith Butler to Triple-A Memphis and reassigned left-hander John Gast to Minor League camp following Sunday's game.

• Right-handers Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller -- candidates for the fifth spot in the starting rotation -- will pitch in the same game in their second consecutive outing Tuesday against the Marlins.

Matheny flip-flopped the order, with Miller scheduled to start and Kelly to follow. The pair also threw Thursday against the Braves.

• Freese, who still feels some pain in his back after a fall he took March 4 while chasing a foul ball, was once again out of the lineup Sunday. "It's Spring Training," Matheny said. "Just being cautious."

• Left-hander Randy Choate pitched live batting practice to Minor Leaguers on a back field Sunday morning in order to face more than one batter in an appearance.

The southpaw specialist has 5 1/3 innings of work over seven games with a 1.69 ERA. Matheny wanted to stack lefty batters so Choate could repeat his breaking ball.

"It's better than what we're doing out here," Matheny said. "We know he's not going to face many right-handers during the season, and we're always at risk because rosters are so big that they can start flopping righties in."

• In honor of St. Patrick's Day, the Cardinals wore green jerseys and caps Sunday afternoon against the Marlins.