Cardinals Injury Updates: Adam Wainwright, Packy Naughton Trending In Right Direction

The St. Louis Cardinals have dealt with a fair share of injuries to open the season.

Fortunately, a pair of pitchers are on the mend and could factor into the equation in the near future. 

"Adam Wainwright threw a 33-pitch bullpen yesterday," The Athletic's Katie Woo tweeted Sunday. "He'll repeat that again on Tuesday. Team will decide then what the next progression is, whether that's live hitters, a rehab assignment or another repeat.

"Packy Naughton has a forearm strain, but imaging came back clean and intact. So that's good news, all things considered. Team will need a few more days for a timeline."

Wainwright is rehabbing from a groin injury he sustained just before the season kicked off. It'll take him at least two rehab starts plus the aforementioned bullpen session on Tuesday before he's back in a Cardinals uniform. That said, May is a realistic target for Waino.

Naughton was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday but should not be out for long. Forearm strains are typically short-term ailments. 

The only concern is that forearm strains can be precursors to Tommy John surgery. Based on the Cardinals' precautionary approach and lack of overall concern, that likely is not the case here. A reliever does not need much time to get back into shape, so he could be in line for an early-May return as well.