First live BP in the books for all pitchers

JUPITER, Fla. -- By the end of the day Tuesday, all 27 pitchers in the Cardinals' big league camp had thrown their first session of live batting practice. Those sessions covered four days, with Adam Wainwright and Joe Kelly highlighting the group of seven pitchers who faced hitters on Tuesday.

The significance in all this isn't so much that pitchers are throwing to hitters -- that's a normal part of a pitcher's progression each spring -- but that the Cardinals have not had to slow any of their pitchers down due to injuries or not being deemed ready to increase workload.

"It shows the guys really came prepared," manager Mike Matheny said. "For the most part, I think it's been a great team effort with nutrition guys, strength and conditioning guys and our medical team to make sure to put these guys in a position to where they can go out and do what they've been doing."

Some of the Cards' pitchers will throw a second session of live batting practice before making their first game appearance. Others will just continue to throw on the side and see their next hitters in Grapefruit League games.

Matheny said that he plans to announce his pitching plans for the weekend's slate of Grapefruit League games on Wednesday.