Cards to be without Wieters for 'a couple of days'

ST. LOUIS -- Matt Wieters is day to day with a mild left calf strain that he sustained while running the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning of Saturday night’s 3-2 walk-off win over the Reds.

Imaging on Sunday didn’t reveal anything major, but the Cardinals' catcher will need time to recover. Manager Mike Shildt didn’t say what Wieters’ timeline for return will be, noting that the injury will “require some time.”

“We’re hopeful, but people heal differently,” Shildt said. “It’s the best it could be based on what he has.”

Catcher Andrew Knizner is one of the Cardinals’ September callups and rejoined the team to be available for both games of Sunday’s doubleheader. In addition, the Cardinals called up catcher Joe Hudson, who was Knizner’s backup in Triple-A Memphis. Hudson batted .223 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 60 games with the Redbirds and will arrive in St. Louis sometime Sunday.

Shildt insisted that Wieters will be back, but with the ability to expand the roster, the Cardinals wanted to add to the catching depth -- especially while they’re on the second day of back-to-back doubleheaders with an afternoon game Monday, as well.

“We’re just making sure -- we’re bringing Joe Hudson up because we can, to cover our bets,” Shildt said.

Thomas transferred to 60-day injured list

To make room for Hudson on the roster, the Cardinals transferred Lane Thomas to the 60-day injured list. The move effectively ends Thomas’ season after the outfielder fractured his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch earlier this week in Milwaukee.

“It appears to be,” Shildt said. “It’s three to six weeks before he resumes activities, so the calendar isn’t kind.”

Thomas was hopeful that he could return in some capacity this season, such as baserunning, but the roster complexity didn’t shake out in his favor. Thomas was slashing .316/.409/.684 in 34 games with the Cardinals this year, mostly used as a bat off the bench or as a late defensive substitute.