Lynn shrugs off ankle injury, plans on next start
SAN FRANCISCO -- A day after being forced out of his start due to a mild right ankle sprain, Cardinals starter Lance Lynn, while walking around the AT&T Park visiting clubhouse without issue Sunday, reaffirmed his intentions to make his next scheduled start. That would come Friday, when the Cardinals open a critical three-game home series against the Pirates.
"Everything feels good," Lynn said before Sunday's series finale. "Everything should be fine. John Lackey says it's a long way from your heart, so I should be fine. I'll be good to go on Friday."
Lynn rolled his ankle while trying to make a play on a ground ball by pinch-hitter Juan Perez to open the eighth Saturday. The swelling had reduced some by Sunday, and the Cardinals saw no need to send him out for further examination.
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As is always the case the day after he starts, Lynn engaged in little physical activity Sunday. He plans to throw his regular in-between starts bullpen session Tuesday.
"I have rolled a lot of ankles in my life and know exactly what it is," Lynn said. "I'll tape it up, and we'll be fine. Now if something crazy happens when I start running, then I'm sure we'll get it checked out. But there is nothing to say there's more pressure on a certain spot [or] there's something more going on than a typical rolled ankle."
• Outfielder Jon Jay began his Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Saturday and went 0-for-3 with two groundouts and a popout. Jay has been on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist stress reaction since July 1.
• Matt Belisle (right elbow inflammation) threw his second bullpen session in three days Sunday. Bullpen catcher Jamie Pogue imitated a hitter during the session to make it more realistic.
• Manager Mike Matheny said he planned to give shortstop Jhonny Peralta the day off Sunday before Peralta went 0-for-5 with three double plays Saturday. Greg Garcia started in his place.
• Adam Wainwright, who turned 34 on Sunday, was serenaded to "Happy Birthday" by a throng of Cardinals fans after finishing some pregame on-field workouts. Wainwright thanked the fans by then stopping to sign autographs.
• Stephen Piscotty made his Major League debut in center field Sunday, as Matheny opted to keep Jason Heyward in right field because of how tricky that corner is at AT&T Park. Piscotty appeared as a center fielder just four times in the Minors.