PITTSBURGH -- After receiving the results of Adam Wainwright's exam with team physician Dr. George Paletta on Friday, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said the Cardinals are "definitely optimistic" that the 35-year-old right-hander will pitch for the Cardinals again this year.
Paletta confirmed the initial diagnosis of an elbow impingement, and he prescribed a platelet-rich plasma injection. Wainwright will not throw for at least 10 to 14 days, and he will then build back up as quickly as his health will allow.
"Any time you send a player to go see a doctor, anything is possible," Mozeliak said. "So for us, it was definitely encouraging news."
Wainwright has had a run of issues with his pitching elbow throughout his career. He pitched several years with a compromised ulnar collateral ligament before requiring Tommy John surgery in 2011. Three years later, Wainwright underwent an offseason procedure to clean out cartilage that had built up.
The expectation is that Wainwright, when he returns, will do so as a starter. Questions about whether he'd be able to warm up quickly and/or pitch on consecutive days would likely push the Cardinals away from using Wainwright in relief.
Worth noting
• Center fielder William Fowler was out of the starting lineup on Friday after waking up with some back stiffness. He received treatment before Saturday's game in hopes of being available off the bench.
• The Cardinals will roll their rotation over, in order, following Monday's off-day, which means that Luke Weaver will start for St. Louis on Wednesday.