Lance Berkman was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup against the Cubs. No word on the reason for the change, but he did just return from a strained calf. Matt Carpenter will slide over to first base while David Freese, who was originally scheduled to get the day off, will play third.

Cardinals activated 1B Lance Berkman from the 15-day disabled list. He's batting fifth and playing first base Sunday against the Braves' Tommy Hanson. Berkman has played in just seven games this season due to a strained calf, but he batted .348/.500/.522 before the injury and can be returned to fantasy lineups immediately. Shane Robinson was optioned to clear a spot on the roster.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Lance Berkman (calf) will not be activated from the disabled list Friday. Berkman tested out his calf earlier this week with no issues, but Mozeliak said he's holding off making a move as a precaution. He didn't offer a timetable on when the first baseman will return to the lineup, but it should be shortly unless he has a setback. Allen Craig will continue to handle first base for now.

After testing out his calf with sprints Tuesday and having no issues, Lance Berkman expects to be activated from the disabled list Friday. The Cardinals have been fine at first base with Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter, but they'll be happy to get Big Puma back to add even more depth to their lineup. Berkman has been sidelined since mid-April and was batting .348/.500/.522 when he went down.

Lance Berkman (calf) ran in the outfield Sunday at Minute Maid Park for about 15 minutes. "Felt a lot better than the other day," Berkman told reporters after the short workout. "Marked improvement." He is aiming to return from the disabled list on Friday, when the Cardinals return from a six-game road trip to host the Braves at Busch Stadium. "Big Puma" was batting .348/.500/.522 through his first seven games.

Lance Berkman (calf) isn't expected to be activated from the disabled list until at least Monday.

Lance Berkman (calf) could return to the lineup sometime this weekend. Berkman will not be activated Friday, the first day he's eligible, but he hopes to do some sprinting for the first time before the game, and he could play Saturday or Sunday if that goes well. "It's pretty much day to day at this point," Berkman said. "I don't know about (Friday) being the day but I feel like I'm close." The Cardinals can afford to play it safe with Berkman with Allen Craig now back in the fold.

Lance Berkman (calf) confirmed that he will not return from the disabled list when he's first eligible Friday. The Cardinals already appeared to be leaning in that direction, but the possibility can now officially be ruled out. However, Berkman said following Thursday's game that "it's just a matter of a couple days." Look for him to return at some point next week.

Lance Berkman (calf) is not expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday when first eligible. Berkman wouldn't rule out a return then, but Cardinals manager Mike Matheny essentially shot the possibility down, saying, "I haven't heard anything yet that would make me believe that's the case." Berkman says he's at "85 percent" and has "jogged a little bit, but I haven't done any real strenuous running yet." He seems likely to be ready sometime next week.

Lance Berkman (calf) was held off from a scheduled running session Sunday at Busch Stadium. Berkman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he no longer feels any discomfort in his left calf, but team trainers felt his strain was not properly healed enough on Sunday morning to allow for jogging or sprinting. The hope is that the veteran first baseman will begin making steady progress this week. He's been on the disabled list since April 19. Matt Carpenter is filling in.