To find their starter for Saturday, however, they are looking beyond their roster.

The Cardinals will need a fifth starter for the first time in a couple weeks this Saturday against the Brewers, and while the team has outlined how a minor-leaguer could make that start or Carlos Martinez could shift back to the rotation for the day, manager Mike Matheny detailed this afternoon how the start could be an "external" option.

That means via trade.

"I think there’s always the possibility of anything could happen," Matheny said. "We’re talking about the fifth spot we have open. We could look at what happens to our bullpen, how we use guys. But this all comes down if anything happens externally. There are a lot of things that go into play."

The Cardinals' interest in David Price has been well-documented, but there is a growing sense that the Rays are less likely to move their ace as they have climbed into the AL East race. Reports surfaced Monday that the Phillies would make Cole Hamels available at a steep price. The Cardinals are one of the few teams that has the prospects available to make such a deal. Hamels has $96 million remaining on his contract, and the Cardinals do have some payroll flexibility to add a core-style contract.