Worth noting

• Yadier Molina ran sprints, took batting practice and did some catching drills in full catcher's gear on the field before Saturday night's game. Molina is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday.

"We miss every guy that's not with us," Matheny said. "Whenever we have a guy go down who isn't able to help us, it's a missing piece of the puzzle. We're excited that he's feeling good and excited that it's looking like he's not going to be too far [from a return]."

• Shane Robinson (strained right shoulder) went 0-for-4 with a strikeout as the designated hitter for Double-A Springfield on Friday. He is expected to remain with the Double-A club for the final two games of the weekend series as he rehabs a strained right shoulder. Like Molina, Robinson can come off the DL on Thursday.

• Daniel Descalso started at shortstop on Saturday. Matheny said the Cardinals are taking a day-to-day approach to the position.

"[Pete Kozma ] is doing a terrific job defensively," he said. "Those times come around when you're just struggling to get something going offensively, which we are and yesterday was a pretty apparent example of that. What can we do to help bolster that a little bit and Danny has been putting really good at-bats [together]. … We're going to try to take advantage of anything we can to get going offensively."

• Matheny said Shelby Miller threw a side session on flat ground Friday and that if the Cardinals decide to have him start against Pittsburgh, he will likely be ready.

"He seems to have no reservations at all. Medical staff seems to be in the same mindset," Matheny said.