UPDATE: Tim Cooney to get nod for Thursday start as Garcia pushed back to Tuesday

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By Chris Brown – STL Baseball Today

With Jaime Garcia not yet ready to take the mound on Thursday as he recovers from a groin injury, lefty Tim Cooney will get the nod when the Cardinals open up a four game series against the San Diego Padres, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Garcia, bothered by what’s been classified as a mild groin strain since his last outing on Wednesday in Miami, threw lightly in the outfield at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. He has twice attempted to throw a bullpen session but has yet to do so due to continued discomfort. The plan is for him to throw a side session on either Saturday or Sunday before starting on Tuesday in Chicago against the Cubs.

Initially scheduled to start the Cardinals’ series opener against the White Sox on Tuesday, Garcia was scratched in favor of Lance Lynn due to persistent soreness as a result of the injury sustained in the eighth inning of his last outing. He later revealed he had been pitching with discomfort throughout the game but had not informed the training staff.

The 28-year-old discussed his recovery with Hummel and expressed relief that he would likely avoid the disabled list:

“Things are progressing really well. It was pretty sore for the first two or three days, but it’s been getting better and better since then.”

“I don’t want to go on the DL ever again in my career. It’s my goal to make every single start the rest of the year.”

As for Cooney, the Cardinals cut short the lefty’s start Sunday at AAA Memphis after just 26 pitches over two innings in order to have him available this week. The team was able to shift Lynn and Wednesday starter John Lackey forward one day in Garcia’s absence due to Monday’s off-day, but recalling Cooney for Thursday’s start will allow the club to give young starters Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez, whose innings are being monitored closely, the extra day of rest that was scheduled.

“We’ve talked all season about having those potential days when maybe we can give those young guys a bit more rest,” manager Mike Matheny told Hummel. “This is one of those examples. It will help us out in the long run.”

As for the roster move to bring up Thursday’s starter, Matheny indicated a position player will likely be optioned to AAA Memphis.

Looking to next Tuesday, when the Cardinals play a day-night doubleheader in Chicago, Matheny said expects Tyler Lyons to make a start along with Garcia.

See previous updates below for more information and check back for updates here on stlbaseballtoday.com.

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Garcia not ready for Thursday start, Cooney likely to get nod

After twice being unable to throw a bullpen session in the last few days due to continued groin discomfort, lefty Jaime Garcia will not be ready to start on Thursday for the Cardinals, two days after his initial scheduled start, manager Mike Matheny told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wednesday afternoon.

Matheny said that Garcia is expected to avoid the disabled list, but that an official roster move has yet to be made, implying that Tim Cooney will likely be recalled from AAA Memphis to start on Thursday. In this situation, a reliever would likely be sent down.

The Cardinals cut short Cooney’s last start Sunday at AAA Memphis after just 26 pitches over two innings in order to have him available this week in the case that Garcia was not.

As for Garcia, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that the expectation now is that Garcia will be ready to start some time next week when the Cardinals head to Chicago to take on the Cubs. The 28-year-old told KMOV’s J.J. Bailey, “In my mind I’m going to be pitching in Chicago.”

 

Garcia didn’t throw bullpen Monday, Thursday starter still unknown

After missing his scheduled side session on Saturday due to continued groin discomfort, Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia was once again unable to throw a bullpen on Monday at Busch Stadium, leaving his availability to start Thursday against the Padres in question.

As for whether or not the lefty could start Thursday without throwing a bullpen, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has manager Mike Matheny’s response:

Initially scheduled to start the Cardinals’ series opener against the White Sox on Tuesday, Garcia was scratched in favor of Lance Lynn after he was unable to throw his regular bullpen between starts due to what was called cramping near his left groin. Garcia exited his last start on Wednesday in the eighth inning after limping as he rounded third base. He later revealed he had been pitching with discomfort throughout the game but had not informed the training staff.

Mike Matheny told reporters on Sunday, including Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that he didn’t believe the injury was serious. “It hasn’t appeared to be. Everything I was hearing yesterday was pretty positive,” Matheny said. Garcia himself declined comment to reporters on Sunday.

Due to Monday’s off day, the club was able to shift Lance Lynn and John Lackey (who starts Wednesday night) forward one day, but it’s unclear whether the team would be willing to do that for young starters Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez, whose innings are being monitored closely.

The team could elect to recall left-hander Tim Cooney, whose start at Memphis on Sunday was cut short to have him available, if Garcia is unable to take the ball on Thursday. Mike Matheny is expected to provide some type of answer Wednesday afternoon.

Check back for updates on this story here on stlbaseballtoday.com.

 

Featured image used under Creative Commons from Barbara Moore. No changes made. Image License.

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