Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel was released from a hospital yesterday after tests showed he had no significant injuries from crashing headfirst into the wall a night earlier.

He's far too sore to play and wasn't in the lineup last night against the Philadelphia Phillies. In fact, he left Busch Stadium several hours before game time to have a doctor examine his sore left shoulder.

The team postponed a decision whether to place him on the 15-day disabled list, depending on how much better he's feeling in a few days. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said Ankiel was "beat-up," but added: "It's worth waiting a couple of days because there wasn't anything broken. Just in case he can go."

X-rays and a CT scan of Ankiel's head, neck and back showed no fractures.

Holding off on a move left La Russa with only three position players on the bench for the finale of a two-game set against the Phillies, because the Cardinals are using a 13-man pitching staff during a run of 20 consecutive games without a day off.

Washington optioned right-hander Saul Rivera to Class AAA Syracuse to make room on the roster for lefty reliever Joe Beimel's return from the 15-day disabled list. Beimel will be available for the game today at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has been out since April 20, when he strained his left hip flexor while making a defensive play.

Left fielder Garret Anderson came off the disabled list. Anderson had been out with a strained left quadriceps since April 20. ... Catcher Brian McCann, who began the season as the team's cleanup hitter, plans to begin a two-game minor league rehab assignment with Class AAA Gwinnett today. McCann, placed on the 15-day disabled list April 25 with vision problems, is testing new glasses and is eligible to be activated Friday.

Oakland activated outfielder Ben Copeland from the disabled list and then recalled him from Class AAA Sacramento before the game last night against the Los Angeles Angels. The A's optioned left-hander Dana Eveland, who figured to be a mainstay in the starting rotation, to Sacramento.