MILWAUKEE -- One didn't have to look around the Pirates' clubhouse to know Doug Mientkiewicz had returned.

"You can hear him," manager John Russell said. "It's good to have him back. It's been a trying time for him."

Mientkiewicz, whom catcher Ryan Doumit called "the personality of this club," was on leave because his wife, Jodi, had a pacemaker placed in her heart Monday.

Mientkiewicz said he would still be in Pittsburgh.

"But she kicked me out," he said. "She said, 'You go back to playing baseball. Watching you on TV will put some normalcy back into my life.'

"I feel kind of weird," Mientkiewicz said. "All of the time with all my injuries, she's been by my side."

He paused.

"But she's made it through so far," he said.

"She's still in a lot of pain, but she's a trooper.

"I've been floored by how many people have helped. These guys [the Pirates] have been huge for me. And I can't say enough about the people of Pittsburgh and Pirates' fans. It means a lot to me."

To make roster room for Mientkiewicz, outfielder Steve Pearce was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis.

Perhaps Nyjer Morgan would have been sent to Indianapolis instead, but center fielder Nate McLouth continues to be sidelined because of a stomach virus and the Pirates need a center fielder.

Tom Gorzelanny, sent to Indianapolis July 5, will return to the rotation tonight.

"I took it as a blessing in disguise or something," the left-hander said of his Indianapolis stint. "I got better, got strong and now I'm in the spot I need to be."

Paul Maholm will start tomorrow, meaning Jeff Karstens will get two extra days between starts this time. He will start Monday night against Chicago at PNC Park.

"His workload this year has been a lot more than last year, so we're just kind of monitoring him," Russell said.

"We're going to give him extra days here and there to make sure he's strong."

Ian Snell is scheduled to start Tuesday night.

After that, there could be alternations to the rotation, especially with the call-up of right-hander Ross Ohlendorf from Indianapolis almost a done deal.

Closer Matt Capps will be activated today.

"He's passed all the rehab tests, so he's ready to go," Russell said.

Capps, out with bursitis in his right shoulder, would have been activated yesterday, but he pitched an inning for Class AA Altoona Wednesday and threw a bullpen session Thursday.

That meant he wasn't available to pitch last night.