Worth noting

• Right-hander Chris Carpenter remains on schedule to throw a 100-plus pitch simulated game at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. Carpenter, eyeing a second-half return to the Cardinals' pitching staff, threw a 106-pitch session Friday. If all goes well Wednesday, the Cardinals will likely send Carpenter to Florida to continue his pitching program.

• St. Louis native Phyllis Smith of The Office threw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to Tuesday's game. Smith spent some time on the field and in the Cardinals' dugout prior to Tuesday's game and met her favorite player, David Freese.

• The Cardinals have still not settled on their rotation order after the All-Star break. With the break lasting four days, the Cardinals have the flexibility to order their starters any way they would like. That would include having Adam Wainwright start the final game of the first half and the first game of the second half.

• Daniel Descalso, a lifetime 6-for-18 against Astros starter Bud Norris entering Tuesday, earned the start at shortstop over Pete Kozma. Descalso entered the game hitting .293 this season when in the starting lineup.

• Matt Holliday was among a group to present the Pujols Family Foundation with a check for more than $350,000 prior to Tuesday's game. The money was raised during Monday's celebrity golf tournament, hosted by Holliday.