Lance Berkman (knee) said Thursday that he's "ready to go to Cincinnati," where the Cardinals open the second half.

But the Cardinals might prefer him to get his timing right against live competition on a minor league rehab assignment. Berkman has been out since mid-May with a torn meniscus that eventually required surgery.

Lance Berkman (knee) will begin a rehab assignment next weekend, likely at Double-A Springfield.

Berkman had been hoping to be back in the Cardinals' lineup for the start of the second half, but it appears that he'll likely meet up with them on July 16 in Milwaukee after their first post-break series in Cincinnati. Berkman said his surgically-repaired right knee "feels really good. It's just about getting back into baseball shape. The good thing about this is that I didn't have a lot of swelling. That helped to speed the recovery."

Lance Berkman (knee) will go on a rehab assignment before returning from the disabled list.

Berkman previously indicated that he didn't think he'd need one, but he's been out for seven weeks, so it makes sense to let him knock some rust off in the minors for a couple games. The 36-year-old is on track to return for the start of the second half if he can avoid a setback.

Lance Berkman (knee) fielded grounders Wednesday at Busch Stadium.

Berkman continues to ramp up baseball activities following surgery in late May to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee. The 36-year-old hopes to return shortly after the All-Star break.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch told a local radio program Monday morning that Lance Bekrman (knee) is aiming to return shortly after the All-Star break.

Berkman has been on the disabled list since undergoing surgery in late May to correct a meniscus tear in his right knee. The 14-year MLB veteran has been working out at his home in Houston for the past month and doesn't feel like he'll need a minor league rehab assignment. It's great news for the Cardinals, who have been battered by injuries throughout the 2012 season.

Lance Berkman (knee) will rejoin the Cardinals on Sunday to continue his rehab.

Berkman has been rehabbing his surgically-repaired right knee at home in Houston to this point, but he'll now work with the Cards' training staff and provide some personality to the clubhouse. He remains ahead of schedule and is hoping to be back sometime in July, but early August is probably a more realistic scenario.

Lance Berkman (knee) expects to be return in July.

The Cardinals projected a rehab of 8-10 weeks immediately following surgery, but Berkman believes he'll be back sooner. "Basically, I'm assuming the first part of July," he said. "If there's a setback, then right after the All-Star break." Berkman has already shed his crutches and was able to avoid a microfracture procedure that would have extended his rehab. An early July return is the best-case scenario. Matt Adams and Allen Craig will see regular at-bats at first base in the interim.

Lance Berkman will be sidelined 8-10 weeks after having surgery Friday to repair a meniscus tear.

Lance Berkman's right knee surgery has been bumped to Friday due to a conflict with the surgeon's schedule.

A scheduling conflict for a surgery is not something you hear of often, but mistakes happen. Berkman is getting a scope to determine the extent of his knee injury. An MRI showed a meniscus tear but there's a thought that the ACL might also be compromised. The 36-year-old first baseman seems doubtful to return this season.

Lance Berkman is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday morning to repair the damage in his right knee.

At 7 a.m., to be exact. Berkman has already been diagnosed with a torn meniscus and may also have an ACL tear. More will be known once the procedure is conducted, but we would be that he's done for the rest of 2012. Matt Adams has taken over at first base for the defending World Series champions.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak announced Monday that Lance Berkman has a torn meniscus in his right knee, not a torn ACL.

Surprise. Of course, the timeline changes considerably with a torn meniscus, as Puma could now be back in 6-8 weeks as opposed to missing the rest of the season. He's scheduled to get a second opinion later this week, but the early word is encouraging. Matt Adams will handle first base for now.

Lance Berkman would consider retirement if his Monday MRI reveals a torn ACL.

"If I've re-torn my ACL or something like that, I'd certainly get it fixed but you don't know how psychologically you're going to come back from something like that," Berkman said. "I'm not talking from the standpoint of being scared of hurting it again. I'm talking about doing everything it takes to come back and play again at an elite level. I think that's a legitimate question I'm going to have to answer if, in fact, it turns out to be something more serious than we hope that it is." At first, Berkman believed he injured his right meniscus on Saturday, but he seems to be coming to grips with the fact that he may have shredded his ACL. He'll find out on Monday.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Lance Berkman is concerned that he has suffered a significant knee injury.

Placed on the DL on Sunday, Berkman previously said he probably injured his right meniscus rather than his ACL, stating that the injury he suffered Saturday felt different than when he tore his ACL back in 2005 during a flag football game. Big Puma will get an MRI on Monday and we'll have a firm idea of his prognosis at that time. Matt Adams is in line for starts in his absence and should be owned in all leagues.

Cardinals placed 1B Lance Berkman on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee injury.

We should have more details about his status when he's examined Monday in St. Louis. For what it's worth, Berkman thinks he probably has an injury to his meniscus and not his ACL. The Cardinals have called up Matt Adams to take Berkman's spot on the roster, and Adams figures to see the bulk of starts at first base while Puma is sidelined.

Lance Berkman thinks he probably injured his right meniscus rather than his ACL.

Berkman said the injury he suffered Saturday felt different than when he tore his ACL back in 2005 during a flag football game. "It's definitely different from what I've had before. It buckled on me twice. I don't know why it did that," Berkman said, adding that he doesn't feel pain, but rather a "crunchy, weird feeling." It's obviously good news for the Cards if Berkman's suspicion is correct, but he's going to require a DL stint either way. Matt Adams will be recalled to take his spot on the roster.

Lance Berkman has been diagnosed with a right knee injury.

The Cardinals aren't sure how serious the issue is and will evaluate Berkman over the next 24 hours before settling on a diagnosis. The veteran first baseman had to be helped off the field after stretching for a throw from shortstop Rafael Furcal on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. "Big Puma" is highly likely to require a stint on the disabled list.

Lance Berkman left Saturday's game after appearing to suffer a right leg injury.

Berkman was forced to stretch off first base to snag a second-inning throw from Rafael Furcal and immediately began hobbling. He had to be helped off the field and seems likely to head back to the disabled list. The Cardinals may be tempted to call up first base prospect Matt Adams if "Big Puma" needs significant time off. Matt Carpenter replaced him at first base Saturday night.

Lance Berkman is not in Friday's lineup.

Berkman was a late scratch Tuesday, and missed time earlier this week, but we're assuming this is just a scheduled day off. Matt Carpenter is starting at first base, hitting second.

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.