Albert Pujols geting in a light workout at Busch (Bill Greenblatt, UPI)

The Cardinals got some good news on Albert Pujols.  He could be back with the team and playing by the I-70 series with the Royals.

Several sources including ESPN have reported that Pujols will be back in the lineup much sooner than expected from a left calf strain that put him on the DL on June 11.

At the time of the injury, the team was saying a minimum of three weeks.  If Pujols returns this weekend, it would be about two weeks.  I watched Pujols take batting practice during the Royals series at Busch Stadium and it looked at that time like he was swing with a lot of upper body and not using his legs, but he was doing some light running in the outfield.

If Pujols is ready to go by the last game of this Detroit series, or in Kansas City, I would expect that he would be the DH for the Cardinals with Duncan at first.  Once Pujols comes back, expect Nick Stavinoha to be sent down to the minors again.

Pujols is hitting .347 with 16 home runs.