Worth noting

By Jenifer Langosch and Andrew Simon

March 24, 2014

• Following Monday's game, the Cardinals optioned outfielder Randal Grichuk to Triple-A Memphis, leaving 34 players in Major League camp, including six non-roster invitees. Grichuk, acquired from the Angels this offseason in the David Freese trade, went 9-for-37 (.243) this spring, with five doubles, a triple and 15 strikeouts.

• There were a few scary moments for the Cardinals during Monday's game, but they all looked worse than they appeared to be. Right fielder Stephen Piscotty and center fielder Peter Bourjos collided as Bourjos caught a fly ball hit by Travis d'Arnaud in the second inning. Both players later were hit by pitches, Piscotty on the back of his helmet -- fortunately, on an offspeed pitch -- and Bourjos on the right hand. After the game, both players said they were OK.

• Right-hander Keith Butler, a candidate for the final spot in the Cardinals' bullpen, gave up two hits, two walks and one run in one inning of work against the Mets. He struck out one but also tossed a wild pitch and allowed a stolen base.

"It wasn't his best outing," Matheny said. "He gave up a couple ground balls, but pretty hard hit and then got into bad counts and got out of it, but it really could have been a lot worse."

• Jamba Juice, The Fudgery and Majestic Athletic have been added to the growing list of tenants for the new Ballpark Village and will open this summer. The Ballpark Village will open to the public for the first time on Thursday with an opening ceremony, a VIP party and a free concert featuring Third Eye Blind.

• Miller will not join the Cardinals on their quick stop in Memphis on Friday, and will instead stay in Jupiter, Fla., so that he can pitch on Saturday in what will likely be a simulated game. Miller is then expected to make his first regular-season start on April 4 in Pittsburgh. That would line up Lance Lynn to fill the third spot in the Cardinals' rotation.

• Jon Jay did not travel with the club to Port St. Lucie on Monday so that he could remain in Jupiter and take several at-bats in a Minor League game. Those Minor League contests provide a controlled environment in which a player can bat leadoff each inning. It is the most efficient way for someone to accrue at-bats in one day.

• Jason Motte will throw another simulated game on Tuesday. Afterward, it will be determined if he can pitch in a Minor League game later this week.

Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB. Andrew Simon is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewSimonMLB.