Carpenter will miss start with elbow soreness

Published Wednesday, April 4, 2007

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Chris Carpenter will miss a turn in the St. Louis Cardinals pitching rotation because of right elbow inflammation, though the team thinks its ace won’t be out long.

Carpenter complained of soreness Monday, the day after he struggled in the season opener against the New York Mets. An examination by team physician Dr. George Paletta yesterday did not include an MRI, and Carpenter said he thought his elbow already had improved.

"I’m not a doctor, but I feel it’s a little bit better," Carpenter said.

The Cardinals said Carpenter will be evaluated over the next three days.

"The first indication is there’s a chance it’ll be something that is not real serious," Manager Tony La Russa said. "We’re going to be real careful with it."

Carpenter allowed five runs in six innings during a 6-1 loss to the Mets on Sunday night. He has been the staff ace the last three seasons after missing most of the 2002 season and all of 2003 after shoulder surgery.

"Obviously, any time something’s going on it’s, 1, frustration, 2, disappointing, and 3, I don’t know if it’s alarming or not," Carpenter said. "But I want to make sure it’s OK. That said, everybody I’ve talked to, the doctors and trainers, are not alarmed. They’re trying to make sure I know everything will be OK."