Allen Craig (hamstring) is not in Thursday's lineup. Craig made an early exit from Wednesday's victory over the Giants after feeling a tug in his left hamstring. "It's just a little tight," he told FOX Sports Midwest on Thursday. "I think it's not that serious. Give it a couple of days." The 27-year-old is hitting .373/.424/.765 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 13 games this season.

Allen Craig felt left hamstring discomfort near the end of Wednesday's game and is questionable for Thursday. The Cardinals are also expected to rest Carlos Beltran and Rafael Furcal in their matinee finale against the Giants. Craig, 27, is batting .373/.424/.765 with five home runs, five doubles and 19 RBI through his first 13 games of the 2012 regular season. He's considered day-to-day.

Allen Craig went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's loss to the Braves. Even though Lance Berkman (calf) is healthy, there's just no way the Cards can take Craig out of the lineup. He has five homers in his last seven games, has at least one RBI in nine of his 10 games played and is hitting .359 since coming off the DL on May 1. Craig started in left field Sunday and can also play three infield spots.

Allen Craig hit a two-run homer in Wednesday's win over the Diamondbacks. "The Wrench" was 0-for-4 before taking D-Backs closer J.J. Putz deep in the ninth. Now nine for his first 27 with three home runs, three doubles and 11 RBI since coming off the disabled list last Tuesday, Craig is inconceivably headed back to the bench with Lance Berkman (calf) ready to come off the disabled list on Friday. There's no doubt the Cardinals will work to get Craig into the lineup 3-4 times per week, however, and seemingly always ready to hit, his outfield, middle infield and corner infield eligibility makes him worth holding onto in all formats.

Allen Craig homered, doubled and drove in three runs in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Astros. "The Wrench" is now 6-for-16 (.375) with a home run, three doubles and seven RBI since coming off the disabled on Tuesday. In other words, right where he left off in the playoffs, and more than fantasy owners could have reasonably hoped for this quickly. Craig is still a bench player when the Cardinals are at full health, but with his surgically-repaired knee now feeling strong enough to play in the outfield, he should be in line for enough playing time to make him worth holding onto in all formats.

Allen Craig said his surgically-repaired knee feels strong enough that he's ready to play the outfield if needed. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny indicated last week that Craig would be limited to first base initially, and that where he's made all of his appearances to this point. It sounds like he's ready for outfield duty, but he's needed more at first now, anyway, with Lance Berkman on the DL.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said that Cardinals manager Mike Matheny "hinted earlier this week" that Allen Craig wasn't ready for outfield duty yet. Craig has started two of three games at first base since being activated from the DL, going 4-for-9 with three RBI at the plate. But, the Cards apparently might not be ready to test out his surgically-repaired knee in the outfield yet. Craig only played first base and DH'd during his rehab assignment. Hopefully he'll be ready for outfield duty soon, because that's his ticket to playing time after Lance Berkman (calf) is activated, which could be as early as Saturday.

Allen Craig doubled twice and knocked in two of the Cardinals' three runs in Thursday's loss to the Pirates. Craig has started two of three games since coming off the DL and gone 4-for-9 with three RBI. He'll probably start two games this weekend as well.

Allen Craig is not in the Cardinals' lineup Wednesday. Craig went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his return from the disabled list Tuesday. Although he says his surgically-repaired knee feels fine, the Cards will ease him back into things. Matt Carpenter is getting the start at first base.

Allen Craig went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his first game of the season Tuesday against the Pirates. Craig showed a bit of rust while striking out in his first two at-bats, but he knocked an RBI single in the fifth inning and another single in the seventh. He should be highly useful in NL-only leagues this season.