~ La Russa plans to ease Greene back into action.

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals eased infielder Khalil Greene back into competition Thursday, activating him from a stint on the 15-day disabled list for social anxiety disorder but leaving him out of the lineup against the Detroit Tigers.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Greene could make a start this weekend.

"We're going to go day to day," La Russa said. "He feels ready to play, he had another good workout and I think we'll play him."

Greene had been on the DL since May 29 and missed 19 games. He played in four games at Class AAA Memphis during his rehab assignment and was 6-for-15 with two doubles.

Greene played two games at third base with Memphis. La Russa has said he might use Greene at third, a position he's never played in the majors although he played there in college. Greene was batting .200 with two homers and a team-high seven errors at shortstop.

He took grounders at third before the game.

"He looks very comfy," La Russa said. "You can tell he's done it before."

Also on Thursday, the Cardinals recalled right-hander Josh Kinney from Memphis and optioned outfielder Nick Stavinoha and right-hander P.J. Walters to their top farm club.

Stavinoha has 13 RBIs in 64 at-bats, but lost playing time in the outfield after Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel returned from injuries.

"Nick has really been good for us," La Russa said. "You can tell by the situations he's been used in."

Walters was with the Cardinals for six days in his second stint with the team and wasn't used. He will return to the rotation in Memphis. St. Louis is sticking with a 13-man pitching staff, keeping Blake Hawksworth as the long lone reliever.

Kinney was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 21 relief appearances with one save at Memphis. He appeared in three games earlier this season with the Cardinals, allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Albert Pujols was not in the lineup, resting a slightly sprained ankle and getting a break before another stretch of starts. Ludwick batted third for the second time despite a 9-for-55 slump since coming off the DL from a hamstring injury May 29.

"It's a little sore but it's playable," La Russa said. "It seems like this one made sense, but he's good to go."