Three Cards' affiliates headed to postseason

SAN DIEGO -- While the Cardinals have been fueled by the arrivals and emergence of so many young players this season, the organization's farm system still enjoyed notable success. Three of the Cardinals' four full-season affiliates will play on after having qualified for the postseason.
Highlighting the farm system's banner year is Triple-A Memphis, which became the Pacific Coast League's first 90-win team since 2006. The Redbirds have taken home some individual honors, too, as third baseman Patrick Wisdom was named to the all-PCL team, and Stubby Clapp became the first manager in franchise history to earn the PCL Manager of the Year Award.
Memphis opens its Conference Championship Series on Wednesday and would carry home-field advantage if it advances to the PCL Championship Series the following week. Memphis won on Monday, so it finishes 41 games above .500.
Class A Advanced Palm Beach became the first Florida State League team to secure a spot in the postseason when it clinched the FSL South Division's first-half title back in June. Palm Beach, which finished the season at 74-60, will open its three-game playoff series against Fort Myers on Tuesday.
Low-A Peoria clinched a wild card spot in the Midwest League postseason and will begin its best-of-three series against Quad Cities on Wednesday. Peoria, which has qualified for the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, went 38-31 in the second half.
Double-A Springfield kept its playoff hopes alive through this final weekend, but fell short of claiming the Texas League North's second-half division title. But Springfield did have players recognized with individual honors, including Dakota Hudson, who was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year even though he was promoted to Triple-A in late July.
Hudson went 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA, 77 strikeouts and 34 walks in 114 innings with Springfield.
Medical report
• Dexter Fowler, who jarred his left hip while running out a triple on Saturday, remained out of the lineup on Monday, though he was expected to be available to pinch-hit.
• Kolten Wong's availability on Monday was questionable as he continued to deal with discomfort in his back, which tightened up on the second baseman late in Sunday's game.
• Jedd Gyorko (right hamstring strain) took swings on Sunday and will do so again on Tuesday, he said. He is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday and is likely to be cleared to hit before he can play the field. Gyorko, who said he is "progressing well," has been doing some light jogging and throwing.
• Adam Wainwright (right elbow impingement) played catch at a distance of 90 feet on Sunday and expects to repeat the exercise on Tuesday. Weight training has helped Wainwright maintain strength in his shoulder, even while awaiting clearance to throw, so he expects to be able to build up his pitch count quickly once he returns to the mound.
Wainwright described his elbow as feeling "a lot better now" and affirmed that he does expect to pitch again this season.