Skip Schumaker (oblique) has been ruled out of the NLCS. Schumaker strained an oblique muscle during Friday night's NLDS Game 5 defeat of the Phillies. He might also be unavailable if the Cardinals advance to the World Series. Nick Punto and Ryan Theriot will handle second base duties in the second round.

After leaving last night's game in the third inning, Skip Schumaker may miss the entire NLCS with an oblique injury. Schumaker will be reevaluated today but admitted during his the post-game interview that it "doesn't look good" to the Dispatch's Derrick Goold. While he appeared to walk off under his own power, the expectation is that Tyler Greene will replace him on the roster. Schumaker batted .283/.333/.351 in the regular season and went 6-for-10 during the NLDS.

Skip Schumaker has been removed from Game 5 with an oblique strain. The injury does not appear to be related to the hamstring injury sustained in Game 4. John Jay will replace him at center field, where he's batting .267/.313./.400 in 16 career games against Philadelphia.

Skip Schumaker (hamstring) is in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLDS. Not only is Schumaker playing, but he's in center field in place of Jon Jay, which is a surprise move from Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. Nick Punto is in Schumaker's regular spot at second base. Matt Holliday, as expected, is also in the lineup.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa won't pencil Skip Schumaker (hamstring) into Friday's lineup until he sees how the second baseman feels during the pre-game workout. Schumaker, who left Wednesday's game with a left hamstring cramp, was not limited during Thursday's workout at Citizens Bank Park and, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "laughed off" any concerns that he wouldn't be available for Game 5. It sounds like he'll be fine to start, but we'll see how he comes through the workout.

Skip Schumaker received a couple IVs for the cramp in his left hamstring and expects to be available for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Phillies. Schumaker tweaked the hamstring on a swing during Game 4 and was taken out as a precaution, but it sounds like he'll be good to for Game 5 against Roy Halladay after Thursday's off day. If the Cardinals decide to play it safe, Ryan Theriot will get the start at second base.

Updating an earlier item, Skip Schumaker doesn't think the left hamstring injury he suffered Wednesday is anything serious. Schumaker told TBS' Craig Sager that the injury was just a cramp and the Cardinals were being extra cautious in taking him out. It sounds like he could be ready for a possible NLDS Game 5, but we'll have to see what the team says. Ryan Theriot would play second base if Schumaker is unable to.

Skip Schumaker left Game 2 of the NLDS Wednesday after the sixth inning with an apparent hamstring injury. Schumaker clutched the back of his leg after a swing during his at-bat in the fifth. He finished his plate appearance but was then replaced by Ryan Theriot in the field to start the sixth. We'll update his condition when more is known.

Skip Schumaker went 4-for-4 in a losing cause Wednesday versus the Dodgers. With a .301 average in 282 at-bats, Schumaker has had a nice bounce-back season for the Cardinals in a reduced role. He was miscast as an everyday second baseman, but as the occasional starter there and a backup throughout the outfield, he's a nice player to have around.

Skip Schumaker's second home run of the season was a critical one on Sunday, walking the Cardinals off to a 5-4 victory over the Royals in a game that saw Albert Pujols go down with a wrist injury. Schumaker's bomb came off of lefty Tim Collins, making it the first home run the Cardinals' second baseman has ever hit off a southpaw in 348 at-bats. In 1,579 career at-bats against righties, he has gone deep 21 times.