ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Martinez's return as a reliever is expected to come early next week, when the Cardinals head to Los Angeles for a three-game series against the Dodgers, another club jockeying for a spot atop the National League Wild Card standings.
Martinez planned to leave for Springfield, Mo., on Thursday and begin a rehab assignment with the Double-A club there on Friday. He's slated to throw about 30 pitches in that first appearance and return to the mound Sunday for another. Barring any setbacks, Martinez will then fly to Los Angeles to meet up with the big league team.
The Cardinals begin a series against the Dodgers on Monday.
"I'm feeling really good, really comfortable with all my pitches," said Martinez, who has been sidelined by injury three different times this season. "I'm excited because I want to help the team. The team is good right now. I'm ready."
The Cardinals are able to expedite Martinez's return from the 10-day disabled list by earmarking him for a relief role. Martinez, who has made 18 starts for the Cardinals this year, last pitched out of the 'pen in 2015.
"I know he's going to pitch in situations that make sense for us in a competitive standpoint," interim manager Mike Shildt said. "I think those situations will present themselves."
Carpenter checks out fine
Matt Carpenter passed the necessary strength tests -- which included opening a jar of his homemade salsa -- in order to assure the Cardinals that he was ready to return to the lineup on Thursday.
The club endured a bit of a scare the night before, when Carpenter's hand turned purple after being hit by a fastball. Seam marks were left across the top of the hand, but X-rays came back negative.

Carpenter enters Thursday riding the Majors' longest active on-base streak at 33 consecutive games. He's hit 17 home runs during that span and leads all National League hitters with a .396 expected batting average on balls in play.
Rehab roundup
• Shildt said he planned to huddle with the medical staff on Thursday afternoon to finalize Michael Wacha's next step as he works his way back from a left oblique injury. Wacha threw a side session at Busch Stadium on Wednesday without issue and is expected to report for a Minor League rehab assignment before the end of the week.
• After throwing a scoreless, nine-pitch inning on Monday, Adam Wainwright (right elbow strain) struck out three and did not allow a hit in a two-inning start for Class A Advanced Palm Beach (Fla.) on Thursday. According to the Palm Beach club, Wainwright's fastball velocity reached 92 mph in the appearance.
• John Brebbia said he was "super pleased" by how he felt during a bullpen session on Wednesday and expects to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis this weekend. He has been out the last 10 days due to a right forearm strain.
Oquendo's influence
One of the first people president of baseball operations John Mozeliak had a conversation with after installing Shildt as interim manager was longtime coach Jose Oquendo, who not all that long ago had aspirations of becoming a Major League manager himself. At the time, Oquendo assured Mozeliak that he was "going to throw his entire weight behind Mike Shildt and support him."
He has followed through with that promise.
"I can't say enough about that guy," Shildt said of Oquendo on Thursday. "When the transition took place, he was like a protector of me. He was very close to me, was there for me, was present for me, was available for me. We have great conversation, and I trust him a ton. Why wouldn't you? I mean, the guy has been here forever and won championships."