Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty returns to injured list with shoulder strain

Flaherty exited Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers after two-plus innings. He allowed four runs on four hits with three walks on 46 pitches. 

The 25-year-old missed 60 games between June 1 and Aug. 12 with a left oblique strain. Since he returned after being activated, he had given up just two runs in 12 innings over two starts. 

Overall, Flaherty is 9-2 this season with a 3.08 ERA, 1.026 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 76 innings. He is in his fifth season with the Cardinals. 

St. Louis entered Wednesday's contest against the Tigers third in the National League Central with a 63-61 record, 13 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. 

With Flaherty sidelined, the Cardinals will rely primarily on Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, J.A. Happ and Jon Lester on the mound.

The Cards are 4.5 games out of an NL wild-card spot. However, it'll be difficult for the club to eclipse the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres for a spot as all three teams are in the midst of solid campaigns.