DENVER — St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan makes his return to the lineup, but when it comes to returns of playoff importance it’s the other lineup that has the biggest name back in place: Colorado is starting Aaron Cook.

The sinkerballer has not made a start since Aug. 21, and tonight he’ll make his case — or start to cinch his case — to be part of the playoff plans for the Colorado Rockies. Cook has been one of the most successful pitchers at Coors Field, mainly because he’s bought into the power of a sinking fastball. Once his pitching coach had him sit at the dugout railing and watch Derek Lowe pitch an entire game. He asked Cook to count the sinkers Lowe threw — making the point that if Lowe could get through a game using mostly (if not exclusively) sinkers, then Cook should at least try.

That was years ago, and he’s become one of the league’s most effective practitioners, especially in this ballpark.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, have a chance to clinch the Central tonight.

“We both have something we’re playing for tonight,” outfielder Matt Holliday just said in his chat with the Colorado media. “They are playing for the Wild Card. We’ve got a chance to pop champagne and celebrate a Central title.”

The lineups for the Cardinals second shot at clinching:

CARDINALS

1. Schumaker, 2B
2. Ryan, SS
3. Pujols, 1B
4. Holliday, LF
5. Rasmus, CF
6. Ludwick, RF
7. DeRosa, 3B
8. Molina, C
9. Carpenter, P

COLORADO

1. Gonzalez, LF
2. Fowler, CF
3. Helton, 1B
4. Tulowitzki, SS
5. Hawpe, RF
6. Torrealba, C
7. Stewart, 3B
8. Barmes, 2B
9. Cook, P

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