The St. Louis Cardinals are a week away from beginning the regular season in the first of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at 3:15 p.m. CT on March 26 at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals will be without starting outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who's still rehabbing from offseason double-heel surgery.

St. Louis' likely' fill-in for Nootbaar, Nathan Church, made a solid play in a Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros on Wednesday and made a throw to home plate to get an out.