Covering the bases

Pujols' status uncertain

Major league batting leader Albert Pujols may be headed to reconstructive elbow surgery that could sideline him into next season. Or he might not.

A day after the St. Louis slugger told KSDK television that he was considering having the operation, the Cardinals said it's not clear whether surgery is needed.

"We are sensitive to Albert's stated concerns," general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. "At no time would we ever ask Albert to consider anything other then what is best for his career and future health."

Pujols has been playing with a torn ligament since 2003, but the Cardinals said in a statement on Tuesday that management, Pujols and his representatives agree that the injury "does not appear to be season-threatening nor do they have a clear indication that it will or will not require future surgery."

Pujols didn't want to discuss his elbow before Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Cubs' Harden, Zambrano close to return

Chicago Cubs pitchers Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano remained on track for starts later this week, good news for the struggling NL Central leaders.

Manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday their absences had a lot to do with the Cubs' 1-7 slide entering a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

"With Harden, we've given him a nice rest for two turns and hopefully he'll finish up strong," Piniella said. "Zambrano is basically the same thing."

Harden, 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA since joining the Cubs on July 8 in a six-player deal with Oakland, is set to rejoin the rotation on Thursday. He missed one start with discomfort in his arm. Zambrano was scheduled to go Saturday after missing one turn. Harden threw a side session on Monday and Zambrano threw Tuesday.

Zambrano, 13-5 with a 3.58 ERA, missed his last start with shoulder inflammation and rotator cuff tendinitis.

SHORT HOPS: Dontrelle Willis and Freddy Garcia will get starts for Detroit next week. Willis will start at Texas on Monday.

* First baseman Paul Konerko was helped off the field with what the White Sox called a mildly sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the second game of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays. X-rays were negative and he's scheduled for an MRI exam today.

* Troy Glaus of the St. Louis Cardinals strained his right shoulder, presumably on a strikeout in the third inning, and was taken out of Tuesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs.

* Derek Jeter singled in the first inning Tuesday night, passing Babe Ruth for second place on the Yankees' career hits list with 2,519.