Injury Forces Kline Off Roster

The St. Louis Cardinals made one significant change to their World Series roster Saturday, replacing injured left-handed reliever Steve Kline, who has a torn tendon in a pitching finger, with right-handed reliever Al Reyes.

Kline had a 1.79 earned-run average in 67 games, limiting left-handed batters to a .143 average, and was expected to help neutralize Boston’s big left-handed bats in the late innings. Now, St. Louis will have one left-hander, Ray King, in its bullpen.

“I’m dumbfounded, shocked,” Kline told reporters. “You get to the end of the rainbow and there’s no pot of gold for me. I could have had surgery a month ago.”

Said Boston Manager Terry Francona: “Nobody roots for guys to be hurt ... but I’m really excited we don’t have to face Steve Kline out of the bullpen. He’s a guy who can be brought in for [David] Ortiz, [Kevin] Millar and [Trot] Nixon and give us trouble. If they only have one lefty, hopefully we make them use him early, and that would obviously put us in a better spot.”

The Red Sox made one change from the league championship roster, adding third baseman Kevin Youkilis and removing long reliever Ramiro Mendoza. Though Boston’s bullpen was heavily taxed against the Yankees, Francona says the addition of starter Bronson Arroyo to the bullpen will give the Red Sox length.

Francona, who wanted an extra position player for the games in St. Louis, said Game 4 starter Derek Lowe was also available in relief for Games 1 and 2.