ST. LOUIS -- Kolten Wong, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Saturday, has a strained tendon in his left elbow but no structural damage. The Cardinals second baseman had an MRI early Monday morning to check the extent of his injury and received the positive news.
The injury occurred on May 20 against the Giants when he was on-deck taking a swing and felt a pop. After taking his next at-bat, Wong left the game early. He started in three games over the next week, but was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Rockies.
"Strained tendon in my elbow and just some scar tissue, that was the reason why I was hearing that popping noise every time, I was feeling the sensation," Wong said. "I don't want to play through injury anymore. I tried for that week, and I had some success, but it was there the whole time and finally just tightened up again."
He is optimistic that his return will be at the soonest possible date. He currently cannot work out his upper body but is continuing lower-body exercises.
"Trying to let [the injury] run its course right now and understand that eventually it's going to heal up. Keep working, keep myself in shape for the season," Wong said. "When 10 days are up, I want to be ready to play."
Wong has 37 hits in 133 at-bats (.278) this season, including one homer and 16 RBIs. He has a .378 on-base percentage.
"Whenever you know a guy's been feeling something, there's always that doubt, and even when he came back, I think he was doubting whatever his initial results that everything was going to be OK," manager Mike Matheny said. "But now that they have in-depth study, [that] gives him a peace of mind to just go heal up and there's not something structurally that will keep this reoccurring."
Baby on the way
Jedd Gyorko left the clubhouse in a hurry Tuesday afternoon to be with his wife, who is pregnant with a daughter to join their twin boys.
In the third baseman's place will be Jhonny Peralta, who had some early success upon his return from the 10-day DL on May 19, but has only had one hit in his last 11 at-bats. He has a .195 average on the season in 41 at-bats.
Piscotty on way back
• Stephen Piscotty is on his way back to St. Louis after leaving the team Friday afternoon to deal with a personal matter at his home in California. It is unclear when he will play next.
Since his return from the disabled list on May 20, Piscotty has batted .158. The Cardinals could use the extra body, as the team had just a two-man bench Tuesday.