From Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch comes this update on right-hander Chris Carpenter:
Still unable to project their co-ace’s return to the mound, the Cardinals nonetheless drew a sigh of relief upon learning Saturday that Chris Carpenter is dealing with a bulging cervical disc rather than a recurrence of career-threatening nerve issues.
Carpenter told Strauss “we can take care of this and move on,” indicating that he doesn’t expect to miss a large chunk of time, and Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed that the news is being received as a “step in the right direction.” Team physicians are expected to map out a recovery timetable for Carpenter early this week. He’s currently questionable for Opening Day, but a quick return to mound workouts could certainly change that.
