Garcia slated to continue rehab stint Monday

PITTSBURGH -- Jaime Garcia plans to resume his Minor League rehab assignment on Monday, manager Mike Matheny said, following a week's recovery from being hit on the left elbow by a pitch in an outing for Double-A Springfield on Sunday. Garcia will head to Triple-A Memphis for this next start.

Though Garcia had thrown only 28 pitches before being removed from his last start, the Cardinals do not expect the short start to present much of a setback with his pitch count. General manager John Mozeliak said earlier this week that Garcia would likely be able to approach 80 pitches his next time off the mound. That had been his target pitch count on Sunday.

The left-hander had his elbow examined by the Cardinals' medical staff in St. Louis the day after the plunking, but the swelling had already reduced enough within 24 hours to make an MRI unnecessary. Garcia has resumed throwing off the mound since the incident.

In his Springfield debut, Garcia allowed three hits -- including a two-run homer -- in two innings. His surgically-repaired left shoulder gave him no issues.