Cardinals hurler Adam Wainwright had a bullpen session in which he threw 25 breaking balls and felt good, according to StLCardinals.com. "I'm getting close, man. I'm a few steps away. I'm not far at all," he said.Wainwright will throw a few more bullpen sessions and then the Cardinals will decide what to do with him. He was having a very good season before his injury, and hopefully fantasy owners who were patient with him will be rewarded soon.

"It was much better," said Wainwright, who did not wear protective tape around his middle knuckle for the first time since the injury. "The spin on the ball was more true and more controllable." The right-hander threw 20 curveballs and five sliders, though he said he has not yet "snapped" a sharp curveball, which would put the most strain on his finger. He'll do that Saturday, when he tests out his full arsenal of pitches during a "game-like" 'pen session, and will then toss a simulated game at Busch Stadium on Aug. 5.

Ryan Lavner, of MLB.com, reports St. Louis Cardinals SP Adam Wainwright (finger) threw 20 curveballs and five sliders during his bullpen session Thursday, July 31. During his next bullpen session Saturday, Aug. 2, he will throw all of his pitches. Wainwright will then throw a simulated game Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Matthew Leach, of MLB.com, reports St. Louis Cardinals SP Joel Pineiro is a candidate to be removed from the starting rotation when SP Adam Wainwright (finger) returns.

Allen Vaughan, of The Springfield News-Leader, is reporting St. Louis Cardinals SP Adam Wainwright (finger) may make a rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield as soon as Monday, Aug. 4.

Matthew Leach, of Cardinals.MLB.com, reports St. Louis Cardinals SP Adam Wainwright (finger) will throw at least two more bullpen sessions before he faces batters. He will throw breaking balls during a bullpen session Thursday, July 31, and will throw a regular bullpen session Saturday, Aug. 2.

Adam Wainwright will throw at least two more bullpen sessions in his attempt to come back from an injured finger after suffering a setback on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Wainwright will throw breaking balls on Thursday and then a normal bullpen on Saturday before being allowed to face hitters.With continued issues with his finger, there is a growing possibility that Wainwright might return in the bullpen and not in the starting rotation.

Adam Wainwright, who is trying to bounce back from a sprained right middle finger, is no longer scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday after struggling during a pen session Tuesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.GM John Mozeliak indicated that he may not begin a rehab assignment until August 5 as well. The team will take each bullpen as it comes.

Adam Wainwright (finger) is no longer scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday after struggling during a bullpen session Tuesday. General manager John Mozeliak suggested afterward that Wainwright's rehab stint may not begin until August 5. "It's one of those things where we take each bullpen as it comes," Mozeliak said.Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Wainwright felt just fine during and after a 65-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday, but his command was not as sharp as he would like it to be. He is expected to throw again on August 1, possibly against hitters, but his next throw will not be in the Minor Leagues. He is recovering from an injury to the pulley that attaches a tendon to a bone in his right middle finger.

Adam Wainwright, recovering from a sprained right middle finger, will begin a rehab assignment Friday with an abbreviated start, probably with Double-A Springfield, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pitching coach Dave Duncan did not project Wainwright's role upon returning, but the team has discussed using the righty in the closer role.Obviously if Wainwright comes back as a reliever he should return sooner. The team hopes to have him back before their August 8-10 series against the Cubs.

Adam Wainwright, recovering from a sprained right middle finger, will begin a rehab assignment Friday with an abbreviated start, probably with Double-A Springfield. Pitching coach Dave Duncan did not project Wainwright's role upon returning, but the team has discussed using the righty in the closer role.Obviously if Wainwright comes back as a reliever he should return sooner. The team hopes to have him back before their August 8-10 series against the Cubs.

Adam Wainwright (finger) will begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Assuming, of course, he doesn't suffer a setback during his bullpen session on Tuesday. The Cardinals have been non-commital about Wainwright's role when he returns, and GM John Mozeliak suggested Monday that closing could be an option. He's expected back for the beginning of the series with the Cubs on August 8.Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch Related: Jason Isringhausen

Wainwright will be the starting pitcher in his rehab game, likely at Double-A Springfield, though the club has emphasized that his work will be limited. "The first couple of rehab starts he makes, he'll start the games but we'll just want to get him back in action," said pitching coach Dave Duncan. "He's not going to be throwing a lot of pitches." General manager John Mozeliak added Monday night his belief that the righty could return very soon, perhaps even within two weeks. At this point, it remains undetermined whether Wainwright will rejoin the rotation or will work from the bullpen upon his activation, so owners should keep a close watch as his return draws near.

Adam Wainwright, who is recovering from a sprained right middle finger, threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session at Shea Stadium on Saturday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He worked in the first six or seven breaking balls he has thrown in seven weeks. He stated that he wasn't pleased with his control but it was the first time that he "really juiced it." He was instructed not to throw any curveballs.Wainwright will take two days off, increase intensity in a bullpen session Tuesday and then the Cardinals will take a look at targeting his return, and what role he will have with the club. If he doesn't start, he will be considered to close.

Adam Wainwright, who is recovering from a sprained right middle finger, threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session at Shea Stadium on Saturday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He worked in the first six or seven breaking balls he has thrown in seven weeks. He stated that he wasn't pleased with his control but it was the first time that he "really juiced it." He was instructed not to throw any curveballs.Wainwright will take two days off, increase intensity in a bullpen session Tuesday and then the Cardinals will take a look at targeting Wainwright's return, and what role he will have with the club. If he doesn't start, he will be considered to close.

Adam Wainwright (finger) will begin throwing breaking balls during a bullpen session Saturday at Shea Stadium. "Once I start throwing breaking balls, routinely throwing them hard... Once I start spinning the ball with authority, then I'm pretty close to returning," said Wainwright. The Cardinals haven't ruled out rushing him back to work out of the bullpen, possibly as their closer. Wainwright, of course, closed out the 2006 World Series and was excellent in the late innings for much of that postseason.Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Adam Wainwright (finger) will begin throwing breaking balls during a throwing session Saturday at Shea Stadium. "Once I start throwing breaking balls, routinely throwing them hard... Once I start spinning the ball with authority, then I'm pretty close to returning," said Wainwright. The Cardinals haven't ruled out rushing him back to work out of the bullpen, possibly as their closer. Wainwright, of course, closed out the 2006 World Series and was excellent in the late innings for much of that postseason.Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Adam Wainwright will begin throwing breaking balls during a throwing session Saturday at Shea Stadium. "Once I start throwing breaking balls, routinely throwing them hard... Once I start spinning the ball with authority, then I'm pretty close to returning," said Wainwright. The Cardinals haven't ruled out rushing him back to work out of the bullpen, possibly as their closer. Wainwright, of course, closed out the 2006 World Series and was excellent, in the late innings, for much of that postseason.Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Adam Wainwright threw in a pen session Thursday as he continues to recover from his sprained right middle finger, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.The team is yet to set a concrete timetable for his return, but he expects to return to the Cardinals' rotation within three weeks.

It was Wainwright's latest session as he prepares to make his way off the disabled list, and the right-hander reported no pain. Wainwright will continue to throw bullpen sessions every other day until the club decides on his rehabilitation starts. Wainwright is hoping to rejoin the club within the next two weeks, at best.

Wainwright throws bullpen session

Adam Wainwright has been cleared to throw off a mound and had a 40-pitch workout in the Cardinals' bullpen Tuesday as he recovers from a sprained right middle finger, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He threw fastballs and changeups during the session, and will move up to his curveball next.Wainwright is still dealing with some stiffness but noted that his throws felt natural during the session. He expects to return to the Cardinals' rotation within three weeks.

Wainwright threw fastballs and changeups during the 40-pitch session, throwing at about 75 percent. He'll throw another session Thursday, and may have only two or three more after that before possibly making a couple of rehab starts. "Best case, I think 2 1/2 weeks maybe," Wainwright said when asked about a timetable for his return to active duty. Stay tuned for updates on the righty's condition.

Adam Wainwright, who is recovering from a sprained right middle finger, is scheduled to meet with team doctors Monday to get clearance to throw off a mound early next week, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Barring a setback, he could be back in the Cardinals' rotation in early August. He should make a few rehab starts in the minors prior to his return.

Wainwright throws long toss

Adam Wainwright continues to progress well in his comeback from and injured middle finger and hopes to return to the hill for the Cardinals the first week of August, according to MLB.com. "I think it's healed exactly like it's supposed to," Wainwright said. "...I have every confidence that as soon as I get into my brain that my finger is healthy, I'll be fine."Wainwright will throw long toss every other day the rest of this week in hopes of being to cleared to throw off the mound next week. If all goes well he will make a couple of appearances in the minors before returning to a rotation that desperately needs him.

Wainwright cleared to begin throwing

Adam Wainwright's ruptured ligament in his right middle finger has healed well enough to begin a throwing program this week, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wainwright will start a light throwing program on Wednesday and could move on to more aggressive workouts when the team returns from the All-Star break.When the team returns from the All-Star break for a workout a week from Wednesday, Wainwright hopes to begin long-tossing. This is an injury he could come back from, but still feel for up to a year.

Adam Wainwright hopes to receive good news from doctors in regards to the ruptured "pulley" in his finger so that he can resume throwing with a target date of returning to action right after the All-Star break, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Wainwright had the splint removed from the finger last Friday and he has begun strengthening exercises waiting for the approval of doctors to return to the mound.

Wainwright hoping to return in July