Troy Glaus makes Cardinals' postseason roster

ST. LOUIS -- Troy Glaus will be on the St. Louis Cardinals' roster for their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Dodgers despite missing most of the season while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

After a two-hour workout Monday that stressed fundamentals, manager Tony La Russa said Glaus showed him enough in the last few weeks to think he could be helpful off the bench. But the manager said Mark DeRosa will be his starting third baseman.

Glaus hit .172 with two RBIs in 29 at-bats in 14 games, with two doubles and two RBIs.

Infielder Khalil Greene, twice sidelined by social anxiety disorder and limited to 18 at-bats after August, is not on the roster. Greene batted .200 with six homers and 24 RBIs and lost his job after Brendan Ryan emerged at shortstop during his absence.

"He feels good, and I think he's excited about his prospects for next year," La Russa said. "But as far as playing time, I think Troy will give us more."

La Russa said he's going with 12 pitchers and 13 position players, and that utilityman Joe Thurston made the roster. He has not determined the final bullpen spots, yet.

John Smoltz and Kyle Lohse will be available in relief in Games 1 and 2 on Wednesday and Thursday in Los Angeles, and one of them will start Game 4 if it's needed Sunday in St. Louis.

La Russa said Smoltz, who has closing experience, likely would be used for a hitter or two while Lohse could come on in long relief.

"We'll do what we can to win and use everybody we have to, and assess where we are when we fly back Friday," La Russa said.

St. Louis lost six of seven after clinching the NL Central, including a season-ending three-game sweep at home by the Brewers.

"We lost a lot of games at the end, like the last weekend, and if we'd have won all three it would mean nothing on Wednesday," La Russa said. "If we lose all three it means nothing on Wednesday. Wednesday is where the meaning is."

The team traveled Monday night ahead of the opener, which will match Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24 ERA) against the Dodgers' Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.23). Carpenter won the NL ERA title and was voted the league's comeback player of the year on Monday after missing most of 2007 and 2008 because of elbow surgery and a shoulder injury.

Catcher Yadier Molina's bruised left knee, which bothered him the final week, is the principal concern. Molina struggled as the game progressed Friday and didn't start the final two games.

"Yaddy is probably the guy you go in with keeping your fingers crossed," La Russa said.

The Cardinals are in the postseason for the eighth time in 14 seasons under La Russa and have made it past the opening round six times. La Russa said he's taken a lot of criticism because St. Louis has made it to the World Series only twice, winning in 2006.

"It's one of my pet peeves," the manager said. "People say we've only been in two World Series with these opportunities, we don't finish it off and there's something wrong with these guys under pressure. That always irritates me because that first series is such a pressure-filled thing."

La Russa discounts the Cardinals' 5-2 margin over the Dodgers in the season series.

"I don't care what league you're in, what year you're in, any club can win the series you're playing," La Russa said. "That's the fascination."