"When the Cardinals left spring training, manager Tony La Russa hardly could have envisioned that less than two months later, his starting keystone combination would be Pete Kozma and Allen Craig.

But so it is today that Kozma will be at short and Craig at second as the Cardinals finish a three-game interleague series here against the Kansas City Royals. ""I'm a one-day-at-a-time kind of guy," joked La Russa.

Kozma is replacing regular shortstop Ryan Theriot, who has the flu. Craig, who made his initial start at second base with lefthander Jaime Garcia pitching, is behind Garcia again today.

And, in right field will be Lance Berkman, who has missed three games with a sprained right wrist suffered in making a diving catch last Wednesday at home."