Righthander Mitchell Boggs, who has started twice this month for the Cardinals _ he lost both _ only to be sent back to Class AAA Memphis a day or so later, will be back in the barrel this weekend.

Boggs, who was brought back to the roster when righthander Kyle Lohse was disabled with a hamstring strain, threw a bullpen session this afternoon and said he had been told he was starting Saturday night here against Washington. Manager Tony La Russa wouldn’t necessarily commit to that, other than to say that John Smoltz and Boggs would start Friday and Saturday, in some order.

Boggs probably won’t go back to Memphis after this start because rosters can be expanded a couple of days later, on  Sept. 1. But he soon will be joined by some of his Class AAA teammates.

La Russa said that other than rehabbing third baseman Troy Glaus, no one else is sure to join the team here next Tuesday for the start of a series with Milwaukee. Memphis is in a battle for first place in its division and the Cardinals want to leave the Redbirds with enough talent to compete _ within reason.

“But we’ve got to protect ourselves first,” said La Russa. “We want them to have their chance but we don’t want to do anything stupid to blow our chances.”

Lefthander Jaime Garcia, who has made a rapid comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery of last September, is starting for Memphis now but La Russa said Garcia likely wouldn’t be brought up.

“We’re all excited about where he is right now, coming off surgery and everything,” La Russa said.
“We want him at the end of his season, whenever it ends, feeling great and having a whole winter to get back to 100 percent next year. That would be a major plus for us.”