The Cardinals finished April with a respectable 14-8 record but there are those in the clubhouse who felt it should have been so much more.

“We could have had an epic month, but it turned out to just be a decent month,” said first baseman Lance Berkman, still disabled because of a left calf strain.

Berkman, in part, was referring to four one-run losses, all of them coming in games the Cardinals led.

“I feel like we’re suffered some bad losses this month,” he said. “With the potential that this team has, this is a nice month, but it’s certainly not our best.”

In the bigger picture, though, the Cardinals might have done quite well to be 14-8 in April. They started it, of course, without first baseman Albert Pujols and manager Tony La Russa, who have moved on.

Right-hander Chris Carpenter hasn’t pitched an inning because of a nerve problem which has weakened his right shoulder. And Berkman, one of their offensive stars last season, also has been injured and has had only 23 at-bats.

The Cardinals  split their last 10 games before starting a three-game series with a in over Pittsburgh in St. Louis on Tuesday.

As when they went 2-for-14 with men in scoring position on Sunday in a one-run loss, the Cardinals, despite ranking high in the league statistics in runs scored, often haven’t been up to snuff when they’ve had a chance to drive in runners.

“You’ve got to do that to win consistently,” manager Mike Matheny said.

That being said at the time of this post the Cardinals lead all of the National League in run differential…by a lot. A difference of greater than 35 runs exists between them and the next best team, the Atlanta Braves.

A few notes:

–1B Lance Berkman still has not run after suffering a recurrence of his calf injury on April 19. He is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list this weekend in Houston, but that is not a sure thing.

–OF/INF Allen Craig  came off the disabled list on Tuesday after a rehabilitation option at Class A Palm Beach where he predictably crushed two home runs in his final start, and then at Class AAA Memphis. Craig had November knee surgery.

–RHP Scott Linebrink, who has a shoulder problem, felt tightness during a bullpen throwing session on Sunday and does not appear close to returning. When Linebrink, hurt the day after it was announced he made the club in spring training, is able to pitch, he will need several games on a rehabilitation program in the minors.

–CF Jon Jay is riding a nine-game hitting streak. Since the beginning of the 2011 season, he is batting .308.

–RHP Adam Wainwright in his fifth bid for his first victory on Tuesday was finally successful facing Pittsburgh. Wainwright, slow to round into form after missing last year following Tommy John elbow surgery, was much better in his last outing, holding Chicago to one run in six innings in a no-decision.

BY THE NUMBERS: 14-8 — The Cardinals’ record in 22 consecutive games against National League Central Division opponents.

Less than two weeks into its championship-defending season and key St. Louis Cardinals are already suffering injuries. While that will likely raise Cardinals’ fans blood pressure, these injuries should not cause panic, yet.

Photo Courtesy of Erika Lynn

First baseman Lance Berkman suffered a calf strain while legging out a triple Tuesday in Cincinnati and has not played since. On the other side of the diamond, third baseman David Freese had an issue with one of his fingers during an at bat Friday against the Chicago Cubs and was a late scratch for Saturday’s game.

Long-term injuries to both of these players would be major blows to the Cardinals, but the team does have a good starting rotation and it does have players to fill gaps if bigger injuries crop up during the season.

Matt Carpenter has filled in for Berkman at first base while Berkman has been out this week. Carpenter is a good player, but he is not the answer at first base for the Cardinals. The best answer to fill Berkman’s spot might be Allen Craig.

Craig had a sensational postseason in 2011 and showed he could be a consistent offensive force while playing several positions throughout a season. Craig could certainly play first base, or third base for that matter, and the Cardinals would likely not see a dropoff at the plate or in the field.

The other Cardinals utility player who could fill a gap created by an injury is Daniel Descalso. Descalso is a very solid fielder and started the season for the Cardinals at second base ahead of Tyler Greene. Descalso also came up with several key hits for the Cardinals last season down the stretch and into the playoffs.

However, the key to all of that is to get Craig healthy. I’m not convinced Greene is the answer at second base or shortstop if Rafeal Furcal gets hurt. Many people have said Greene didn’t play well because of former manager Tony La Russa’s style. That’s a nice theory, but he is going to have to start showing consistent production to prove he’s not just a great college player at Georgia Tech who was drafted in the first round in 2005 but couldn’t produce in the major leagues.

The Cardinals do expect to get Craig and Skip Schumaker back early in the season, and that is the depth the team desperately needs with a lineup that includes four players age 32 or older.

La Russa was always great at getting maximum production from his bench players, and this isn’t to say new manager Mike Matheny won’t do the same. Still, Craig and Schumaker are much less of a dropoff from Berkman and Freese than Carpenter and Descalso and/or Greene.

This is a team that could be a strong World Series contender if its starting lineup and pitching staff stay healthy, but with an older team that if is even more pronounced than it has been for many recent Cardinals teams.

While early injuries are never good, fans can take solace that these are minor injuries and the Cardinals will have the depth to sustain some injuries to position players throughout the season. The pitching staff’s depth might be another story, especially with Chris Carpenter’s injury, but hopefully those questions don’t have to be asked and the staff remains healthy.

Scott Yerbic is on vacation this week, so we reached out to our parent site, BaseballDigest.com, who kindly sent us a temporary fill in with Matt Wilson to bring you this week’s Fantasy Report.

The Cardinals are still trying to cling on to hope of making the playoffs. Here’s a look at the fantasy matchups for this week:

Colby Rasmus finally returned to the field last week after a calf strain. He’s a concern for consistent playing time with LaRussa’s penchant to sit him against lefties and of course the soap opera between the two. However, LaRussa stated recently that Rasmus, “is the best fifth place hitter we’ve got.” With the Card facing three left-handers this week in Chris Narveson, Chris Capuano, and Mike Minor, you may want to sit Rasmus if you have a better option.

Jake Westbrook is the only guaranteed two-time starter this week but will not have it easy matching up against Yovanni Gallardo and Tom Hanson. If Kyle Lohse fares well at Milwaukee he could go again Sunday against Atlanta’s Tim Hudson, but I do not know why I’m really discussing Lohse because if you are starting him at this point, you’ve got major fantasy issues.

Even though Adam Wainwright has lost his last four outings, you have to continue to think that he will right his ship. He has had two starts at Turner Field with a 1.80 ERA.

Albert Pujols has a career .333 against Gallardo, .556 average off Capuano with 3 HR in 27 AB, .429 with 2 HR in 7 AB against Narveson, .200 against Jurrjens, .435 vs. Hudson and has not faced Minor or Hanson. You don’t need me to tell you to start Pujols but the Milwaukee trip (career .451 AVG at Miller Park) may help him snap out of a recent little funk (4 hits in his last 28 ABs).

Yadier Molina has hit .305 in his last 30 days bringing his average up a bit. He’s a Catcher that will not hurt you in the average column right now and has had a little pop at Miller Park (5 of his 40 career HR) and has hit .333 at Turner Field.

Matt Holliday has continued his consistency this year and has hit well in both ballparks on this road trip – .426 at Miller Park and .452 at Turner field.

It may be as early as Tuesday for the Cardinals to get reinforcements with Allen Craig and Tyler Greene getting added to the roster. With the Cardinals in a stretch of 20 games straight they may get playing time but neither packs enough punch to warrant a roster spot.

This week the Cardinals travel to Houston for three games and then host Cincinnati for a three game series.

Albert Pujols gave fantasy owners a scare last week when he hurt his ankle. The ankle is fine and Pujols is proving why he is ranked number one in fantasy this year. He hit .379 with three home runs, six RBI’s, and scored eight runs last week. In August he is batting .402 with 11 home runs, 23 RBI’s, while scoring 29 runs. Pujols should have a very productive week coming up. This season against the Astros and Reds he is batting .400 with seven home runs and 28 RBI’s through 27 games. He should always be active in all fantasy formats.

Matt Holliday is currently on an 11 game hitting streak. During this streak, he is batting .298 with two home runs, eight RBI’s and scoring eight runs. This season against the Astros and Reds he is batting .295 with five home runs, 26 RBI’s and 11 runs scored. Holliday should be active in all fantasy formats.

Jon Jay just had his worst week since reaching the majors. Last week he batted .156 with one home run, six RBI’s, no doubles and scored six runs. He is now batting .330 this season. Jay’s fantasy value will drop with this average. He does not give the numbers to be active each week without his batting average. Jay is batting .375 against the Astros and Reds so this could be a week he continues his old ways. For now, he remains a low end fantasy option.

Colby Rasmus continues to have an injured right calf strain. There is no time table when he will return. He should have been placed on the disabled list. No need to start Rasmus until he can come back and prove he is healthy. Continue to bench him until further notice.

Adam Wainwright has not been the pitcher fantasy owners are used to seeing this season. In his last three starts he is 0-3 with a 5.21 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. His ERA went from 1.99 to 2.30 in those three games. Wainwright is scheduled to start Saturday against the Reds. He will pitch at home where this season he is 11-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. I would expect him to bounce back and show why he is an elite fantasy pitcher this season. He should continue to be active in all fantasy formats.

Chris Carpenter is to be a two start pitcher this week. He is scheduled to pitch Tuesday at Houston and home Sunday against Cincinnati. In August he is 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA. Against the Astros this season he is 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA. This season against the Reds he is 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA in four starts. Carpenter remains a must start fantasy starting pitcher.

Jaime Garcia extended his streak without allowing an earned run to 20 1/3 innings on Friday night. In August Garcia is 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA. He is scheduled to pitch Friday against the Reds. In three games against the Reds this season, Garcia is 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA. His is having a terrific rookie season and a solid option in most mixed leagues.

Ryan Franklin has been unproductive the last two months. His fantasy value is not worth much. He is 3-2 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Franklin had pitched in 19 games and given up 13 earned runs in July and August. He is no longer a fantasy closer right now. I would bench him for the remainder of the season.

This week the Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh for three games and then Washington for a four game set. As always the Cardinals have plenty of fantasy help and especially this week against the weaker National League opponents.

Albert Pujols hit .333 with two home runs, three RBI’s, and scoring five runs last week. Against the Pirates and Nationals this season he is batting .367 with two home runs and three RBI’s. In August Pujols is batting .412 with eight home runs, 17 RBI’s, and scoring 21 runs through 17 games. If you want to throw your league away, go ahead bench him but there is no need for that. Do the smart thing and keep him active in all formats. It is always the obvious decision week in and week out.

Matt Holliday has not hit a home run since Aug 3 against Houston. Last week he batted .190 with no home runs, two RBI’s and scoring two runs. This season against the Pirates and Nationals he is batting .347 with one home run and three RBI’s. Even though Holliday is in the middle of a slump, he is batting .317 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI’s on the road this season. This will be a week he gets back on track and should be active in all fantasy formats.

Jon Jay tore up San Francisco pitching last weekend. He batted .462 with three RBI’s. Jay continues to be a fine rookie season. He is batting .362 on the season while scoring 32 runs and hitting 17 doubles. On the road he is batting .391. He remains a low end fantasy option because he will not give you the power numbers. As long as he is batting above .350, hitting doubles, and scoring runs he is a nice option to have.

Colby Rasmus is currently injured with a right calf strain. There is no time table when he will return. He could be placed on the disabled list. No need to start Rasmus until he can come back and prove he is healthy. Bench him until further notice.

Adam Wainwright is scheduled to be a two start pitcher this week. He will pitch Tuesday against the Pirates and Sunday against the Nationals. He is 17-7 with a 2.06 ERA and 165 strikeouts this season. Wainwright has not pitched against the Nationals yet but against the Pirates he is 2-0 with 12 strikeouts and 2.08 ERA. Continue to start Wainwright through the rest of the season. He is an elite fantasy pitcher and there is no reason not to pitch him every time he starts.

Chris Carpenter is scheduled to pitch Thursday against the Nationals. In his last 4 starts, he is 3-1 with 2.60 ERA, 15 strikeouts, eight walks, and giving up eight earned runs over 27 2/3 innings pitched. Back on May 18, Carpenter pitched against the Nationals taking the win over eight innings pitched, striking out five and walking none. In 11 career starts against the Nationals, he is 6-1 with a 3.03 ERA and is a must start option in all fantasy formats.

Jaime Garcia is scheduled to pitch Friday against the Nationals. He is coming off his best pitching performance on the season Sunday against the Giants. He is now 11-6 while lowering his ERA to 2.42. In his last two starts, Garcia is 1-1 with no earned runs and 12 strikeouts over 15 innings pitched. He is 6-3 on the road this season and should be a viable option this week.

Ryan Franklin has not allowed a run since August 7. Last week he only had two appearances with one strikeout. I would expect more from a closer. Franklin only has 21 saves on the season. He remains a good option in most mixed leagues but no longer a must start in all fantasy leagues.

The latest additions of Jake Westbrook and Pedro Feliz have no fantasy value right now.