Of injured Cards players, Molina expected back first

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since breaking his left hand more than a month ago and believes he'll be back in the lineup soon.

"Two or three more days and I'll be back," Molina said. "I feel good. I made some strong swings. No pain, no pain at all."

Molina is one of four regulars out of the lineup for the National League's best team, sidelined since being hit by a pitch by Claudio Vargas of the Diamondbacks on July 7. Coincidentally, the Cardinals opened a three-game series against Arizona and Vargas pitches on Thursday.

Manager Tony La Russa said Molina likely will be activated without a rehab assignment, noting that his defense is more important to the team. Molina has been catching wearing a pad to protect the hand, and caught Chris Carpenter in the bullpen earlier Tuesday.

"He's passed the catching test," La Russa said. "It's a question of how he swings and whether he has any discomfort taking real swings.

"My guess is he probably will not go [on a rehab assignment]. I don't think he's going to need it."

Molina is batting .255 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 74 games in his first year as the starter. He would prefer to just start playing with the Cardinals.

Two other injured Cardinals, Larry Walker and Reggie Sanders, took batting practice for the second time in three days. Walker hit several home runs and a succession of line drives, and La Russa said Walker also could return from the disabled list in the next few days.

Walker, batting .271 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 73 games, has been sidelined since July 23 with a herniated disc in his neck. He's taken three cortisone shots for the injury and said last week he would be willing to take a fourth injection sometime in September so he can get through the postseason.

"I don't know what more Larry could have done," La Russa said after watching the session. "You can tell Reggie didn't have quite the same timing."

Sanders, batting .281 with 18 homers and 44 RBIs, has been out with a broken leg since July 16, and the timetable calls for a Sept. 1 return. He was hoping to be cleared to run soon after undergoing X-rays earlier Tuesday.

"Each day is getting better and that's all I can ask for," Sanders said. "I can lift, I can swing the bat, I can throw the ball."

The fourth injured regular, third baseman Scott Rolen, has a more uncertain future. La Russa said Rolen, on the DL with a shoulder injury since July 22, has good days and bad days.

"I get no impression," La Russa said. "I just don't know yet."