Cards set to get Carpenter back soon

[July 28, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The suddenly slumping Cardinals, trying to stay in contention in the NL Central, expect to get a boost from within just before the trade deadline.

Chris Carpenter, out since opening day 2007 because of an elbow injury, is scheduled to return to the St. Louis rotation Wednesday against Atlanta, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday.

The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner, who had reconstructive elbow surgery last July, gave up two runs in 5 2-3 innings in his second rehab start Friday night for Triple-A Memphis. He is scheduled to throw a side session in St. Louis on Sunday and, if all goes well, make his first start of the season against the Braves.

"About the best news we've had," said La Russa, whose team was mired in a five-game skid entering Saturday night's game against the New York Mets. "I don't know that you can give me something that comes close to it."

Carpenter has thrown several simulated games at the club's spring training complex in Florida, and looked strong in tossing four scoreless innings for Double-A Springfield last Sunday. His command improved with Memphis, where he threw 53 of his 78 pitches for strikes.

La Russa said he has no expectations for the right-hander and won't necessarily have him on a pitch count when he returns.

"What he needs to concentrate on is the day he pitches," La Russa said. "We're going to watch him. When he starts struggling we'll get him out."

Young right-hander Mitchell Boggs struggled again Friday night against the Mets and will likely lose his spot in the rotation when Carpenter rejoins the team.

His return can't come soon enough for a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries.

Adam Wainwright, the opening-day starter in Carpenter's absence, hasn't pitched since June 7 because of a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand. He's also expected back in the rotation in August. 

Former 20-game winner Mark Mulder, who is still trying to come back from two shoulder operations and struggled in three appearances with St. Louis this season, has been shut down for at least two weeks. His chances of making it back this season are bleak.

Earlier Saturday, the Cardinals traded former starter Anthony Reyes to the Cleveland Indians for minor league reliever Luis Perdomo.

Reyes held Detroit to four hits in eight-plus innings to win the World Series opener two years ago, and for a while was considered the club's top pitching prospect. But he's struggled with consistency and has spent much of the season in the minors.

[Associated Press; By DAVE SKRETTA]

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