The St. Louis Cardinals stand for the National Anthem while an American Bald Eagle flys around Busch Stadium before a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day in St. Louis on April 7, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The St. Louis Cardinals stand for the National Anthem while an American Bald Eagle flys around Busch Stadium before a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day in St. Louis on April 7, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been added to the St. Louis Cardinals’ 25-man roster for the National League Championship Series.

Pierzynski, a .300 career hitter with five homers in 100 postseason at-bats, will replace lefty reliever Sam Freeman on the active list for the NLCS, which begins Saturday at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals still have southpaws Randy Choate and Marco Gonzales available out of the bullpen for their best-of-seven series with the San Francisco Giants, with Pierzynski giving the club an additional lefty bat off the bench as well as a third catcher along with Yadier Molina and Tony Cruz.

Adam Wainwright will take the mound for Saturday’s Game 1 and will be joined by fellow starting pitchers Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller on the 11-man staff. Closer Trevor Rosenthal, Choate, Gonzales, Seth Maness, Carlos Martinez, Pat Neshek and Michael Wacha will comprise the relief crew.

The rest of St. Louis’ position players will remain intact, with Matt Adams, Kolten Wong, Jhonny Peralta, Matt Carpenter, Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma the infielders and Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Randal Grichuk, Peter Bourjos and Oscar Taveras forming the outfield group.