This April has a full schedule, while we are trying to get our pitchers back.
Off days might have helped. Only April 14 is scheduled off.
The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: Schedule: 2008 Cardinals Schedule
A system could be set up with a second starter to keep from wearing out the bullpen.
Hope the starter gets in some innings. Have a second one set to follow him, and hope he can enter at the start of an inning, like a starter does.