St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter won't be starting on Opening Day this season after a setback occurred in his recovery from a bulging disk in his neck, as the Associated Press reported via ESPN. The pitcher returned to St. Louis on Tuesday to take tests.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny spoke on the issue, noting that Carpenter just hasn't made the progress that was hoped for:
He looked really good and felt good; the next day he just didn't respond like we had hoped. His shoulder is just not responding and they're uncertain of the root of it. That's what they're trying to get to with tests on the neck and shoulder and trying to figure out where it's all coming from.
In place of Carpenter, Kyle Lohse will be starting on Opening Day in a April 4 match-up with the Miami Marlins. The 37-year-old Carpenter pitched 273 innings between the regular season and the playoffs last year, more than any other pitcher in professional baseball.
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