Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa is considering Chris Duncan, Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel as possible cleanup hitters, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported.


"I think you've got three guys that have the kind of pop and potential danger to have those possibilities (of hitting cleanup)," La Russa said. "Play the season, and see how it materializes."


The cleanup spot may be the most pivotal position in the Cardinals' lineup because it is the bat that protects star slugger Albert Pujols.


La Russa said it's not essential that one of the lefthanded hitters %u2014 Duncan or Ankiel %u2014 be the solution at cleanup. Both have gotten prime time in the spot this spring. Duncan, hitting .353 overall entering the weekend, is the most recent.


"I think Duncan is not afraid of anything," La Russa said. "Wherever you put him ... he pushes himself. Chris in the four-spot is just a little bit more of a distraction (for him). But he's already one of those guys who gets fired-up to produce."