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Carpenter in Cardinals' lineup after exiting with hip injury

Jeff Curry / USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals will have third baseman Matt Carpenter in the lineup Sunday as they inch closer to securing their third straight Central division crown.

Carpenter was removed from Saturday's game in the sixth inning due to left hip tightness, but indicated he'd be ready to play in the finale. The two-time All-Star is leading off against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Tyler Cravy.

"By the time I came up the steps into the clubhouse he was already lobbying that he was fine and wants to play," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told reporters after the Cardinals' 5-1 victory Saturday.

Carpenter enters play with a team-leading 26 homers and .361 OBP for the division-leading Cardinals, whose magic number to clinch the NL Central stands at three.

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