Rockies manager Jim Tracy, needing to stay with the hot bats of Ian Stewart and Clint Barmes, left third baseman Garrett Atkins out of the lineup for Monday’s finale of a four-game set with the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Tracy insisted, however, that Atkins is not going to be buried on the bench. Tracy will look for favorable matchups, try to put him in key pinch-hit situations and see if he can make Atkins a viable lineup option. Atkins has shown life lately, but he is batting .189 with fivfe home runs and 20 RBIs.

“In no way do I want to be having people thinking or suggesting that that’s it with Garrett Atkins, but because of where we’re at right now I am in a position to pick spots for the time being that make the most sense,” Tracy said.

Here are Monday’s lineups:

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Clint Barmes, 2B

Todd Helton, 1B

Brad Hawpe, RF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Carlos Gonzalez, LF

Paul Phillips, C

Jason Marquis, P

Cardinals

Skip Schumaker, 2B

Colby Rasmus, CF

Albert Pujols, 1B

Ryan Ludwick, RF

Chris Duncan, LF

Yadier Molina, C

Tyler Greene, 3B

Brad Thompson, P

Brendan Ryan, SS