Message #1069763

[RobDibblesGhost]

He'll be there.

ST. LOUIS -- Giancarlo Stanton was back in the starting lineup on Saturday, but he didn't stay in the game too long.

The Marlins All-Star right fielder was lifted for pinch-hitter Scott Cousins in the top of the third inning against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium with right knee discomfort.

An MRI exam taken on Tuesday revealed Stanton has "loose bodies" in the knee. The 22-year-old has opted to play through the discomfort of having bone or cartilage fragments in the knee.

Stanton had one at-bat on Saturday, and he singled to open the second inning. He scored on Justin Ruggiano's home run.

On the first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, Stanton had to test the knee, as he ran down a long drive by Rafael Furcal in right-center.

Stanton played the field for two innings, but with two outs and Carlos Lee on first base in the third inning, he was replaced by Cousins.

Stanton tested his knee by doing running and fielding drills at Busch Stadium on Friday afternoon. After his 40-minute session, he was cleared to play on Saturday.

The lone Marlin selected to the All-Star Game, Stanton has been hopeful of participating in the State Farm Home Run Derby on Monday at 8 ET on ESPN and at the All-Star Game on Tuesday at 7:30 on FOX at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

It's unclear if he will be ready for Monday.

Stanton acknowledged that he will eventually need surgery to remove what is loose in his knee. He's been trying to put that off, as recovery can be anywhere from two to eight weeks.