DENVER — St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is out with a bruised left knee and outfielder Matt Holliday was a late scratch with the same illness that sent him from Saturday’s game. Those absences left manager Tony La Russa scrambling to put together what he insisted had to be a representative lineup for today’s game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

After all, he does owe the Atlanta Braves one.

La Russa admitted that if the Cardinals had clinched — as they did Saturday night — and they were playing a team out of contention, he would have likely rested some regulars. But with the Rockies in a Wild Card duel with charging Atlanta, La Russa invoked the “integrity of the game” phrase to explain why he told many regulars last night that they had to play today.

“We told everybody, Spray as much of stuff as you want, but be careful drinking it,” La Russa said. “We’re going to put our lineup on the field.”

That is, everybody save the lefties.

The one creative twist La Russa put on the lineup before posting it was starting rookie shortstop Tyler Greene in center fielder. Greene and Joe Thurston were out early this morning taking fly balls in center just to get used to the spacious outfield here at Coors Field. La Russa watched and winced when he saw the sun searing down on the impromptu outfielders. (”Didn’t take that in to account,” La Russa said.) The manager said he didn’t want to put either of the normal center fielders — really any of the three of them — out there because Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado’s lefty starts, “chews up lefties.” Ryan Ludwick, for example, was going to start in center field if Holliday was able to play.

The lineups for today’s game, with rookie David Freese starting at third:

CARDINALS

1. Lugo, 2B
2. Ryan, SS
3. Pujols, 1B
4. Ludwick, LF
5. DeRosa, RF
6. Freese, 3B
7. LaRue, C
8. T. Greene, SS
9. Lohse, P

COLORADO

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

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