Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals placed shortstop Rafael Furcal on the 15-Day Disabled List, due to an elbow injury he suffered in Thursday night's game against the Nationals.

Taking Furcal's roster spot: shortstop Pete Kozma, who's going right into the lineup and was slated to bat eighth against the Nationals Friday night. Kozma, the Cardinals' first-round draft pick five years ago, got into a few games and earned a World Series ring last year, but has spent this whole season, as he spent most of last season, with Triple-A Memphis. Kozma's not much of a hitter -- in six minor-league campaigns, he's got a .308 on-base average, with middling power -- but he's probably the Cardinals' best defensive shortstop.

Utilityman Daniel Descalso filled in for Furcal Thursday night, and figures to see at least some of the action in September, with the Cardinals battling for one of the National League's two available wild-card postseason berths.