Back from injury, Westbrook ready for Friday start

NEW YORK -- Jake Westbrook rejoined the Cardinals on Tuesday and is scheduled to make his return to the mound on Friday, when the Cardinals open a series in Miami.

Westbrook threw a side session at Citi Field on Tuesday, the final step in his rehab work from an elbow injury. In his final rehab start, Westbrook threw 76 pitches in a seven-inning, one-run start for Class A Peoria on Sunday. He expects to enter Friday's start prepared to throw 100 pitches.

"I feel really good right now," Westbrook said. "I feel really good with the two starts I've had. I feel really encouraged about getting up and down seven times on Sunday, and hopefully it continues to feel that way throughout the year."

Westbrook will be taking the spot in the rotation that had belonged to Tyler Lyons. The Cardinals have not yet determined what is next for Lyons, as the organization plans to see how the next few days go before making a final decision. If the Cardinals want to keep him on the Major League roster, they could plug him into the bullpen or send out Michael Wacha instead. Otherwise, Lyons will be headed back into the Triple-A rotation.