Reyes expects to start on Thursday

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Righty likely to take the hill despite right elbow discomfort










ST. LOUIS -- Anthony Reyes' scheduled start on Thursday afternoon is in question due to some discomfort and inflammation in his right elbow. Reyes downplayed the condition on Wednesday and said he expects to start, but manager Tony La Russa allowed for more uncertainty."I'll talk to him and see if he's OK to go," La Russa said prior to Wednesday night's game against Kansas City.

Reyes said he has been dealing with the issue since his second start at Triple-A Memphis, on May 15. He competed for the Cardinals' starting rotation in Spring Training, but instead made the club as a reliever. After his workload and effectiveness both dwindled, Reyes was sent to Memphis to start.

He pitched well in the Pacific Coast League, as usual, posting a 3.28 ERA, 31 strikeouts, 14 walks and two home runs in 35 2/3 innings. Reyes was recalled from Memphis on Saturday and pitched in relief on Sunday. He threw a bullpen session on Tuesday to get ready for his start, and reported some continuing discomfort.

"I've been feeling it since May," Reyes said. "It's just a little different than what I'm used to. I felt it a little more the last time I went out there. But I told them I was good to go. I'll throw as long as I can."

La Russa declined to speculate on what the Cardinals might do for a starter on Thursday if Reyes is unavailable to pitch. Reyes is only getting the call because of another injury, Todd Wellemeyer's right elbow pain.

St. Louis has five starting or swing pitchers on the disabled list, and that doesn't count Wellemeyer, who is still on the active roster. Chris Carpenter, Matt Clement, Mark Mulder, Brad Thompson and Adam Wainwright are all on the shelf.

 

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With Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer already scratched from getting the start in third and final game of this series with the Royals, Tony LaRussa may have to go with plan C after Anthony Reyes is complaining of elbow trouble.

Reyes is scheduled to take Wellemeyer's spot, but he is going to be re-evaluated after Wednesday night's game with what the team is calling elbow inflammation. During his pre-game press conference, LaRussa was testy when asked about who would start in place of Reyes.

Not wanting to get too far ahead of himself in terms of who should start, LaRussa wants to wait until Thursday to make that call.

If Reyes is unable to go, the next option could be Brad Thompson.

 

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update:


Reyes placed on DL, Thompson to start Thursday for Cards


ST. LOUIS (AP)?The St. Louis Cardinals placed Anthony Reyes on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow Wednesday night, hours before he was to replace injured Todd Wellemeyer in the rotation.

Right-hander Brad Thompson, who had been set for a rehab appearance on Thursday night for Triple-A Memphis, instead will throw in the final game of a three-game series against the Royals. Thompson has been on the DL since April 23 with an elbow injury.

?I knew there was something there, but I didn?t think it was serious,? Reyes said. ?I think it?s more precautionary than anything.

?They don?t want me starting a game knowing it?s going to be in there in the back of my mind.?

Reyes said earlier in the day that he was prepared to pitch despite elbow irritation that prompted a medical exam but his status was a question in manager Tony La Russa?s mind, even though Reyes said he?d been told by team physician Dr. George Paletta that he was suffering from normal pitching wear and tear.

?I feel like I?m good enough, yeah,? Reyes said. ?I?ll be fine.?

La Russa said the doctor visit was enough of a red flag for him.

?He had some elbow soreness pitching at Triple-A and we didn?t think it was a problem,? La Russa said. ?You never risk a pitcher.?

Reyes is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 10 relief appearances, gaining a victory with a scoreless inning on Sunday. He was 1-2 with a 3.28 ERA in seven starts for Triple-A Memphis before being recalled last weekend.

Long considered one of the team?s best prospects, Reyes beat the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 World Series opener but was 2-14 with a 6.04 ERA last season. La Russa said he considers Reyes, 26, a developing pitcher.

Wellemeyer, 7-2 with a 3.67 ERA in his first full year as a starter, is skipping a turn for the second time this month. He has worked 83 1-3 innings over 14 starts after totaling 80 1-3 innings last year and said in his last start Friday he was unable to get full extension, resulting in a career-worst eight runs allowed in 3 1-3 innings.

Mark Mulder is scheduled for a rehab start on Thursday for Triple-A Memphis, coming off five scoreless innings in his previous outing for Double-A Springfield, and Thompson had been set to follow him in that game. Matt Clement (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch on Friday for Memphis.

Right-hander Chris Carpenter threw a bullpen session on Wednesday without issues and is scheduled to throw again on Friday with a simulated game on Monday perhaps with Class A Palm Beach. Carpenter resumed his comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery last July after meeting with team doctors and getting a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., earlier this week regarding elbow soreness.

Catcher Yadier Molina, who sustained a mild concussion in a home-plate collision with Phillies pinch runner Eric Bruntlett on Sunday, was out of the lineup for the second straight day and was likely to miss a third straight start in Thursday?s day game, with backup Jason LaRue starting all three.

?He?s feeling better, but we?ll try to hold him out,? La Russa said of Molina.