ATLANTA - St. Louis manager Mike Matheny has a primary goal for the Cardinals' season-ending doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves:
Keep everyone healthy for the postseason.
"We can get some good out of it," Matheny said. "We'll get some guys some playing time. We'll take a run at winning two games."
The Cardinals' game Saturday night was postponed by rain. They'll play the Braves in a doubleheader Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
The Cardinals, winners of the three straight NL Central titles, will open the Division Series at home Friday against the winner of the wild card game between Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs.
Matheny originally wanted to get his regulars back in the lineup after giving several of them the previous night off and had Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday, Jason Heyward and Kolten Wong penciled in.
But when the start of Saturday's game was delayed, Matheny reissued his lineup, keeping only center fielder John Jay, shortstop Greg Garcia, first baseman Brandon Moss and catcher Tony Cruz in place.
Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis' regular starting shortstop, is resting this weekend, and Matheny does not want to use him in the doubleheader.
Adam Wainwright, who pitched a scoreless inning Friday, will work out the bullpen again Sunday. The Cardinals' ace returned Wednesday from an Achilles tendon injury that sidelined him 141 games.
Wainwright is 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA and three saves in 65 career relief appearances. Matheny has indicated it's unlikely he will return to the rotation until next year.
The doubleheader will be St. Louis' second in five days. They won Wednesday's nightcap at Pittsburgh to earn the division title.