The St. Louis Cardinals are closer to the return of a key piece to their starting rotation as right-hander Michael Wacha was cleared to begin a throwing program on Tuesday.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Wacha gained clearance to start a throwing program as he works his way back from a shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined since June 17.
While it's a sign of good news for the Cardinals, general manager John Mozeliak wouldn't speculate on how long it will be until Wacha returns, but he did say that the St. Louis medical staff is optimistic that the young right-hander will return to the mound this season.
"At the end of the day, it's whether you do or you don't," Mozeliak told the publication. "But 'optimism' is a fair word right now."
Wacha underwent an MRI on Monday and will be re-evaluated in two weeks to see how his right shoulder responds to the throwing program. The Cardinals believe that the progress he has made will lead him back into the rotation.
"It's shown a lot of healing," Mozeliak said. "The inflammation appears to be down in that area. Now, he's ready for that next step."
Wacha, 23, is 5-5 with a 2.79 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 83 strikeouts in 90.1 innings and 15 games this season. Wacha appeared in 15 games in 2013 and went 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA, 1.098 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched.
Wacha was 4-1 last postseason with a 2.64 ERA and picked up NLCS MVP honors as the Cardinals went all the way to the World Series before losing to the Red Sox in a series in which Wacha struggled.
With Wacha and Jamie Garcia (pitching arm) injured, the Cardinals traded for John Lackey and Justin Masterson prior to last week's non-waiver deadline to join a rotation that includes Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller.
Given the fact that Miller was on the trade market last week, Wacha may unseat his spot in the rotation if and when he returns.
The Cardinals (59-51) enter Tuesday just one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers (61-51) in the National League Central and currently hold the second wild-card spot in the NL.
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