Baseball

Westbrook tried throwing from a mound Wednesday for the first time since landing on the DL but had to stop after 20 pitches due to lingering pain in his right elbow. The Cardinals don't believe he has structural damage in the elbow, but clearly he's not ready to return anytime soon. It's not clear what the next step for the right-hander is.

Salas doesn't have any structural damage, but the Cardinals will shut him down for a while and hope the shot helps to speed his recovery along. There's no timetable for his return.

Lyons struck out four and walked just one. He needed a mere 81 pitches to get through seven before turning the ball over to Trevor Rosenthal. Lyons doesn't have the best of stuff, but he's a strike-thrower with a very good team behind him, something that might give him a little value in NL-only leagues. He'll get the Royals in Kansas City next.

Molina's sitting on just two homers after hitting 22 last year, but he's batting .333. Unfortunately, it's not leading too many RBI; most of his 21 came in April and he hasn't had a two-RBI game in four weeks.

Well, that's not good. Westbrook felt fine while playing catch, but this was the first time since landing on the disabled list that he tried to throw from a mound. The right-hander isn't sure what the next step is, but obviously he's not going to be back anytime soon.

He's now missed three straight games due to swelling around his right thumb where he needed three stitches for a small cut. The Cards are worried that cut could split open, so they're playing things cautiously. Freese could be back in there Friday after the off day Thursday. Matt Carpenter is at third again Wednesday, with Daniel Descalso covering second.

Dr. James Andrews recommended surgery and reportedly expressed amazement that Garcia pitched as well as he did earlier this season under the circumstances. The Cardinals' team doctor will perform the shoulder procedure. It's safe to say that Garcia will not contribute in a meaningful way for the rest of the 2013 season.