Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Lance Berkman (calf) will not be activated from the disabled list Friday.

Berkman tested out his calf earlier this week with no issues, but Mozeliak said he's holding off making a move as a precaution. He didn't offer a timetable on when the first baseman will return to the lineup, but it should be shortly unless he has a setback. Allen Craig will continue to handle first base for now.

After testing out his calf with sprints Tuesday and having no issues, Lance Berkman expects to be activated from the disabled list Friday.

The Cardinals have been fine at first base with Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter, but they'll be happy to get Big Puma back to add even more depth to their lineup. Berkman has been sidelined since mid-April and was batting .348/.500/.522 when he went down.

Lance Berkman (calf) ran in the outfield Sunday at Minute Maid Park for about 15 minutes.

"Felt a lot better than the other day," Berkman told reporters after the short workout. "Marked improvement." He is aiming to return from the disabled list on Friday, when the Cardinals return from a six-game road trip to host the Braves at Busch Stadium. "Big Puma" was batting .348/.500/.522 through his first seven games.

Lance Berkman (calf) isn't expected to be activated from the disabled list until at least Monday.

Lance Berkman (calf) could return to the lineup sometime this weekend.

Berkman will not be activated Friday, the first day he's eligible, but he hopes to do some sprinting for the first time before the game, and he could play Saturday or Sunday if that goes well. "It's pretty much day to day at this point," Berkman said. "I don't know about (Friday) being the day but I feel like I'm close." The Cardinals can afford to play it safe with Berkman with Allen Craig now back in the fold.

Lance Berkman (calf) confirmed that he will not return from the disabled list when he's first eligible Friday.

The Cardinals already appeared to be leaning in that direction, but the possibility can now officially be ruled out. However, Berkman said following Thursday's game that "it's just a matter of a couple days." Look for him to return at some point next week.

Lance Berkman (calf) is not expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday when first eligible.

Berkman wouldn't rule out a return then, but Cardinals manager Mike Matheny essentially shot the possibility down, saying, "I haven't heard anything yet that would make me believe that's the case." Berkman says he's at "85 percent" and has "jogged a little bit, but I haven't done any real strenuous running yet." He seems likely to be ready sometime next week.

Lance Berkman (calf) was held off from a scheduled running session Sunday at Busch Stadium.

Berkman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he no longer feels any discomfort in his left calf, but team trainers felt his strain was not properly healed enough on Sunday morning to allow for jogging or sprinting. The hope is that the veteran first baseman will begin making steady progress this week. He's been on the disabled list since April 19. Matt Carpenter is filling in.

Lance Berkman (calf) took swings in a batting cage Wednesday for a second consecutive day.

Berkman was also able to hit some soft toss. The veteran first baseman is expected to be ready to rejoin the Cardinals as soon has his time on the 15-day disabled list is up. He's batting .348/.500/.522 with two doubles and two RBI in 30 plate appearances this season.

Cardinals placed 1B Lance Berkman on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 19, with a strained left calf.

As expected. Berkman originally hurt his calf on April 10 and then aggravated the ailment on Wednesday. It's not clear at this point how long he'll be out, but he reportedly didn't make the injury worse Wednesday, so a minimum stint would seem to be possible. Matt Carpenter will handle first base while Puma is out.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Lance Berkman (calf) will be placed on the disabled list prior to Friday's game.

Not surprising. Berkman missed four games last week with his left calf ailment and then aggravated the injury in Wednesday's game. Especially with Matt Carpenter hitting so well and the Cards' record sitting at 9-3, it makes sense to play it safe with the veteran. Assuming he gets through Thursday's rehab game OK, Skip Schumaker will be activated from the disabled list a few days early to replace Berkman on the roster.

Lance Berkman told reporters Wednesday that it's "possible" he will need a stint on the disabled list.

Berkman aggravated his left calf injury in the fifth inning of Wednesday's victory over the Reds. He's already missed four games because of lingering discomfort, and the only way to fully heal that is rest. Look for Matt Carpenter to fill in at first base in Thursday's matinee against Cincinnati (and perhaps for the next two weeks).

Lance Berkman left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning after aggravating his left calf injury.

The Cardinals are calling him day-to-day right now, but Berkman had just returned Tuesday after missing four games, so we've got to this the disabled list is a possibility this time around. They have a nice fall-back option at first base in the hot-hitting Matt Carpenter. Puma's status should be clarified further Thursday.

Lance Berkman returned to action on Tuesday April 17.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said both Lance Berkman (calf) and David Freese (finger) could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Mets.

St. Louis is off on Monday. Berkman and Freese both say they will be ready to roll on Tuesday, but Matheny will have final say. Freese hasn't played since Friday and Berkman has been out of the lineup since Tuesday.

As expected, Lance Berkman (calf) is not in the lineup for Friday's home opener.

Berkman is expected to miss the Cardinals' entire weekend series with the Cubs before possibly returning on Tuesday against the Reds. Matt Carpenter is making another start in his place on Friday.

An MRI taken Thursday on Lance Berkman's left calf revealed a minor muscle tear.

Berkman suffered the injury while running the bases earlier this week in a game against the Reds. He will avoid the 15-day disabled list and is expected to return to the Cardinals' starting lineup next Tuesday, so it's mostly good news for the veteran first baseman. Matt Carpenter will presumably continue to fill in.

Lance Berkman will get an MRI on his left calf Thursday.

Berkman was pulled from Tuesday's game against the Reds after feeling tightness in the calf and did not play Wednesday. He could need a stint on the disabled list if the MRI reveals a strain. Matt Carpenter has been filling in at first base for the Cardinals, who have their home opener Friday afternoon against the Cubs. Berkman also struggled with calf issues during the 2009 season.

Lance Berkman (calf) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Reds.

As expected, as Berkman left Tuesday's game with tightness in his left calf. The Cardinals have an off-day on Thursday, so there's a chance he could be ready to go in Friday's home opener against the Cubs. Matt Carpenter will make the start at first base Wednesday afternoon and bat cleanup.

Lance Berkman returned to action on Tuesday April 10.