Chris Carpenter's injury problems are typically formidable enough to resist predictions, but Jenifer Langosch is reporting that Carpenter could begin throwing in June, with a return date sometime after the All-Star Break. Carpenter's been shut down since Spring Training after suffering nerve problems that caused a weakening in his right shoulder.

Carp, who hasn't thrown since, led the National League in regular-season innings, with 237, and threw a Major League-leading 36 more in the 2011 postseason. That would be quite a workload for anybody, let alone a starter who's missed nearly three full seasons in his career with arm injuries. Carpenter, who made one start in 2007 and three more in 2008, was 17-4 in 2009 and 16-9 in 2010 before poor run support in 2011 dropped him to 11-9.

He's 95-42 as a Cardinal, to go with a 9-2 postseason record since joining the team—and then missing the entire year—back in 2003.

More St. Louis Cardinals news, handpicked from SB Nation St. Louis:

• Because of how well Lance Lynn has pitched in his absence, Chris Carpenter's return will leave the Cardinals with a fascinating rotation surplus. Who's going to get shuttled to the bullpen?
• Fellow veteran Lance Berkman's injury problems kept him from returning to the lineup on Friday.
• But at least Yadier Molina has returned without incident.