No Timetable for Rolen’s Return

ST. LOUIS —  Scott Rolen will sit out the rest of St. Louis’ first-round National League playoff series against Arizona after injuring his shoulder in Game 2, and his availability beyond that is uncertain.

“He’s out for this series,” trainer Barry Weinberg said Friday. “His future status will be determined later.”

Manager Tony La Russa said Friday he didn’t know when his third baseman would be available.

The team released a statement that said a CT scan revealed a moderate shoulder sprain, and an MRI test revealed no additional injury.

The Cardinals lead the best-of-five series, 2-0. The NL championship series is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

“I just know that I don’t think he’ll play the rest of this series, and that’s enough for now,” La Russa said.

On Thursday, the team described the injury as a sprained shoulder. Rolen was hurt in a seventh-inning collision with Diamondback pinch-runner Alex Cintron.

La Russa said he wasn’t sure what he would do in Game 3 today, mentioning Albert Pujols and Miguel Cairo as possible replacements. Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said he empathized with La Russa, having lost Luis Gonzalez because of a separated shoulder the last week of the regular season.

“As an opposing manager it didn’t hurt as bad,” Brenly said, “but putting myself in Tony’s shoes and what I’ve been through this year with injured players, I know exactly how much that hurts.”