unilever hoop: Carpenter dealing with neck stiffness

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Carpenter dealing with neck stiffness

Associated Press Sports

updated 6:38 p.m. ET March 8, 2012

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - Chris Carpenter said he has been dealing with neck stiffness for several days and missed his scheduled throw on Wednesday.

The Cardinals' right-hander is not sure if he will throw Friday, his next scheduled side session.

Carpenter was expected to make his first spring start Monday in one of the Cardinals' split squad games against either Atlanta or Washington.

The Cardinals have held back Carpenter this spring after he threw 273 1/3 innings last year, including the postseason.

Manager Mike Matheny gave no indication of a timetable for the right-hander.

"It's still fluid," Matheny said. "We're still just kind of wait and see. It's the same story I've been giving you since we got here. You just kind of watch and see and put him in when it seems right."

Outfielder Carlos Beltran missed Thursday's game against the Red Sox because of the flu. Beltran was sent home Wednesday.

"We're going to give him a couple of days," Matheny said.

Right-hander Adam Wainwright, who missed last season after undergoing elbow surgery, makes his first spring start Friday against the Twins in Fort Myers.

"It's been a long year for him," Matheny said. "I don't think most people realize how tough that is watching a season pass where you couldn't do your part and see it go into the World Series. He just was such a pro about that and such a selfless guy about the whole thing."

Matheny said there will be no additional limits on his pitch count.

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