Rosenthal eyeing weekend return

JUPITER, Fla. -- Trevor Rosenthal said he felt no discomfort while playing a game of catch on Tuesday and is targeting a weekend return to Grapefruit League play.
The reassurance that all is well came a day after an MRI showed no strain of Rosenthal's right latissimis dorsi (lat) muscle. He had felt discomfort in that area during an appearance last Friday, and that prompted the Cardinals to shut him down for a few days and send him out for an imaging scan.
Rosenthal is tentatively scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday. If all goes well there, he should be ready to appear in a game next weekend.
"I knew that it wasn't anything serious," Rosenthal said. "They just wanted to be sure, since it's in that area, that it wasn't worse than it was. From my feeling, I wasn't really worried."
Siegrist set for next step
Kevin Siegrist, who was slowed by left shoulder soreness early in camp, is scheduled to appear in his first Grapefruit League game on Wednesday. Siegrist threw his second session of live batting practice on Sunday and has not had a setback since resuming his delayed throwing program.
With three more weeks remaining in Grapefruit League play, the Cardinals expect Siegrist to get all the work necessary to be ready by Opening Day. Siegrist led all qualifying National League left-handed relievers with a 2.77 ERA in 2016. He appeared in 67 games.
Carpenter still sidelined
Manager Mike Matheny estimated that Matt Carpenter won't return to Grapefruit League action for at least another week as the first baseman continues to recover from lower back tightness. Carpenter hasn't played since last Wednesday.
Carpenter did take swings off a tee on Monday and will continue increasing that swing work as the week progresses. The timing of this setback forced Carpenter to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic.
Trimming the roster
The Cardinals reassigned right-handed pitchers Junior Fernandez and Jake Woodford to Minor League camp on Wednesday. Woodford made a pair of scoreless appearances, including one in Monday's loss to the Twins. He allowed four hits over two innings. Fernandez threw two scoreless innings against Atlanta in his only outing on Feb. 28.
The organization opened Minor League camp on Wednesday with its first pitchers-and-catchers workout. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Thursday.