UPDATE: The Cardinals have officially activated Adam Wainwright.

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The remarkable road back to the MLB for Adam Wainwright this season is nearing its conclusion. Rumors have touched upon his return, but the right-hander could be back with the St. Louis Cardinals this week.

Wainwright threw a simulated game on Saturday and was awaiting approval from his doctors to be activated and rejoin his teammates, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. Well, on Monday he got even closer to that goal.

"Adam Wainwright could be activated as soon as Tuesday, and he would be available to pitch Wednesday against Pittsburgh, if needed," writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The right-hander more that likely proved his ability to pitch on Saturday (after having said the simulated game was "incredibly uplifting"), so he threw another simulated game on Monday afternoon in Pittsburgh to show the coaching staff and doctors that he can also field his position.

"Wainwright completed a series of fielding plays to prove his agility and comfort moving around the field," Goold added. "He was able to scoop up a bunt and mimic a throw to third base as if to get the lead runner. He raced to back up third base on a hit to the outfield with a ghost runner on first base. He acted as if he threw a wild pitch or passed ball and rushed to the plate -- even though there was a cage surrounding the hitter and batter.

"To complete his workout, Wainwright ran a few pickoff plays that ended in rundowns between first and second.

"He completed the rundown with manager Mike Matheny taking the throw from bench coach David Bell and then returning the ball to Wainwright for the tag.

"If he gets the approval of the staff, his next throw will be in a game."

This series against the Pirates is the most crucial one of the season because if the Cardinals win two of those games they will clinch the NL Central. However, if they get swept, they'll be tied for the lead in the division.

Now, although it's been said Wainwright would be coming back as a reliever, it's interesting to think if that plan has changed after Carlos Martinez was lost for the season over the weekend with a shoulder strain. The 24-year-old Martinez was arguably the best starter in the rotation, having gone 14-7 with a 3.01 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 31 games (29 starts), totaling 179 2/3 innings.

General manager John Mozeliak said the postseason rotation had not yet been discussed.

Additionally, nothing has been reported on a change in the Cardinals' plans to utilize Wainwright, but would Matheny and the front office talk about moving him into the rotation for the postseason after he pitches a few times out of the bullpen over the course of the next week?

The Cardinals sit atop the MLB, but they cannot afford to go into an NLDS matchup against the Pirates or Cubs without two of their top starters. Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia certainly make for a proficient rotation, but the road ahead doesn't get any easier.

Here are each starter's stats against the Pirates and Cubs this season:

Lynn vs. PIT: 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in three starts

Lynn vs. CHC: 0-3 with a 7.64 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in four starts

Lackey vs. PIT: 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in three starts

Lackey vs. CHC: 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in three starts

Wacha vs. PIT: 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in three starts

Wacha vs. CHC: 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in four starts

Garcia vs. PIT: 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.74 WHIP in one start

Garcia vs. CHC: No starts

Martinez vs. PIT: 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in four starts

Martinez vs. CHC: 2-0 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in five games (four starts)

Although Martinez does not have good numbers against either team, he's a force to be reckoned with on the mound and has shown he can register good outings against each club after rebounding from bad ones.

The only pitcher that has faced both the Pirates and Cubs a number of times this season and has shown consistency is Lackey, but he's not your stereotypical overpowering No. 1 starter who can carry a club throughout a postseason series (although his career numbers in the postseason are very good).

The advantage for St. Louis is that they won't have to face aces Jake Arrieta or Gerrit Cole in the beginning of this hypothetical NLDS because both right-handers will have pitched in the wild-card game.

Whatever the case, as of right now Wainwright likely doesn't have the strength or stamina to simply hop back in the rotation and give the Cardinals six or seven strong innings. Perhaps they can use him in a spot start and see how long he can last without getting significantly fatigued.

This scenario is just something to ponder over the next week as the Cardinals prepare for the postseason without their two best starters. St. Louis went a combined 19-16 (6-10 on the road) against the Pirates and Cubs, so it's not like they overpowered their division rivals this season.

It's unlikely Wainwright gets moved to the rotation, but keep your eyes and ears open for such a possibility because the regular season ends a week from tonight.  

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