Carpenter working up nerve issue: Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter continues to show greater flexibility in his right shoulder and could begin a throwing program in the next four weeks, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carpenter has yet to pitch in a game this season as he continues to recover from a nerve issue that forced him to be shut down during spring training. The nerve disorder crept into his right shoulder and kept him sidelined. (Updated 05/25/2012)
Injury Report
Neck, Shoulder - 15-day DL. Out until at least late July (Updated - 5/12/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Prior to the start of the season, the Cardinals were hoping Carpenter could return at some point in May. Now, the team is banking on a return at the end of July. Carpenter has produced positive signs in his recovery, but the nerve issue is a challenge to overcome easily. The right-hander will need some rehab starts after starting a throwing program and shouldn't be relied on in most Fantasy formats as he returns after the All-Star break. (Updated 05/25/2012).
04/01/2012 22:11 Injury roundup: Tim Hudson gets closer
Atlanta Braves right-hander Tim Hudson is about to take an important step in his recovery from back surgery, plus injury news from elsewhere around spring training.
03/30/2012 23:29 Injury roundup: Michael Morse to open season on DL
Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Morse will open the season on the disabled list because of the injured lat muscle that's limited him all spring. Plus injury-related news and notes from around Grapefruit and Cactus League camps.
03/30/2012 15:09 Carpenter is crucial, so the Cardinals try to be hopeful
Chris Carpenter means a ton to the Cardinals, on and off the mound. So it's no surprise that they're trying to sound optimistic, even though it's very hard to know for sure how soon he'll be able to pitch.
03/30/2012 10:27 Cardinals GM 'optimistic' Carpenter can return 'some time in May'
Chris Carpenter is down indefinitely with a nerve issue in his neck. We don't know of any sort of timetable as to his return to the hill in game action. General manager John Mozeliak gave some indication Friday morning on a St. Louis radio show:
"If Carpenter had to pitch today, he could pitch," Mozeliak said. "But he's just not comfortable. I'm optimistic that some time in May he'll be ready."
03/30/2012 10:00 Dear Mr. Fantasy: The art of drafting closers
Closers sure are a hard position to assess on Draft Day and beyond, with many situations far from settled. Our Scott White addresses his take on closers and much more in his Dear Mr. Fantasy.
Chris Carpenter ended up being a horse for the Cardinals last season despite getting off to a slow start with a 1-7 record and 4.47 ERA over his first 15 outings. But he'll have an even bigger obstacle in his way to begin 2012. A bulging disc in his neck has caused nerve irritation that has led to weakness in his pitching shoulder. Right now, no one can say for sure when he'll even be able to pitch again. The good news is he proved he still has plenty left in the tank after that slow start last year, going 10-2 with a 2.73 ERA in his final 19 starts, so if the 36-year-old can get the feeling back in his shoulder, he should still perform like a top-of-the-rotation type in Fantasy. Clearly, the risk is enough to drop him to the middle rounds on Draft Day, though. (Updated 3/25/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start