The Cardinals are hoping Lance Berkman will be able to return to the team following the All-Star game, which is a huge improvement over when they thought they would see him again: never.

Berkman hurt his right knee stretching to catch a throw at first base. Initially it was ruled a sprained knee, but Berkman and team doctors believed that he may have torn his ACL. An MRI done on Monday showed significant cartilage damage on both sides of the knee but no ligament damage, meaning his ACL was intact.

However, the nature of the injury makes Berkman suspect if something else is wrong. "We can all agree you shouldn't get hurt just stretching for a ball at first base," Berkman told reporters. "Fearful is the wrong word, but I'm certainly concerned -- not just what the injury is but why did it happen?

For the time, Berkman will be out six to eight weeks as doctors figure out the full extent of the injury. He will undergo an arthroscopic procedure later this week. This will allow doctors to see the damage done to the knee and correctly diagnosis the injury.

"At a minimum, it's a scope to repair it," Cardinals' general manager John Mozeliak said. "We're hopeful, we're optimistic that's what it is. But we'll need a few days before we determine anything. Certainly, he knows there are uncertain times ahead of him."

Berkman put the situation in simplistic terms. "It's pretty simple: Best-case scenario, it's probably after the All-Star break, worst-case scenario is I'm done for the year."

The 36-year-old was also very aware what this injury could mean for his career. "You certainly think, if I have to get my ACL repaired, I might be done playing."

Berkman has already missed much of the season with a strained calf. He was batting .333 with one home run and four RBIs.

He was named the NL comeback player of the year last season after joining the Cardinals in the offseason.