JUPITER, Fla. – The Cardinals are encouraged by the progress of right-hander Chris Carpenter but have decided to prepare Lance Lynn to start should their ace not be ready to open the season.
Carpenter, who has been dealing with persistent neck stiffness stemming from a bulging disk in his back, hopes to begin throwing in the next few days.
But it could take several days for him to be ready to appear in a game, and the Cardinals said he needs to make at least three starts before deeming him ready to start the season.
A starter in the minor leagues, Lynn impressed during a late-inning bullpen role last season. He was preparing to be in the bullpen again this year but will instead make his first start on Wednesday against the Houston Astros in Jupiter.
"We have had some really good news about Carp, very positive and promising, so we’re certainly looking into that as being the future plan," said manager Mike Matheny. "But with that being said, we also have to get somebody ready just in case, and that will be Lance Lynn.
"I’ve been excited with how Lance has fallen into that role. He could be that late-inning guy, a seventh or eighth inning, but he certainly has the ability, and the long-term projection to potentially be that starting guy as well."
Lynn made two starts for the Cardinals last year, going 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA in 10 1/3 innings. But he seemed to find himself in the bullpen, posting a 2.22 ERA and a .176 opponents batting average in 16 games.
The 6-5, 250-pound Lynn was drafted by the Cardinals with the No. 38 overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Mississippi. He went 7-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 12 starts last year with Triple-A Memphis.
"It’s not good because Carp’s down right now but to get the opportunity to do that and they have the faith in me to do that if it comes to that is a good feeling," Lynn said. "I’m still taking the same approach to pitching as I was out of the bullpen and just trying to do it for longer and more innings.
"Bullpen was fun. I had some success there which is going to give me a lot of confidence going into doing this now, so I’m looking forward to getting an opportunity and hopefully I can do well."
Carpenter hasn’t thrown since facing hitters on March 3. He planned to miss at least one start to minimize his spring workload following a career high 273 1/3 innings last season.
But the plan was complicated when he developed stiffness in his neck that remained for more than a week. He was examined Friday in Jupiter and the findings were sent to specialists in St. Louis for a further look.
The Cardinals were relieved that the pain was not due to a nerve condition that has forced him to undergo surgery in the past. Carpenter is scheduled to address the media on Monday afternoon.
"Everyday we say day-to-day and one day things sound like he’s feeling better," Matheny said. "So that’s kind of relief that says he can get closer to get back out there and throwing.
"We were excited with what we heard in the reports we have even this morning. With all that being said, still have to progress and we drug our feet long enough to try and see how this thing will play out itself."
Lynn has made two appearances this spring, allowing one run and four hits in three innings.
