Jake Westbrook (oblique) threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Though he has finally started to progress, Westbrook is still an extreme long-shot to be added to the bullpen for the NLCS or even the World Series should the Cardinals advance.

Jake Westbrook (oblique) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Sunday.

It's the first time he's pitched off a mound since September 22. The Cardinals aren't counting on anything from Westbrook, but he could be a bullpen option if they make it past the first round of the playoffs.

The Cardinals are expected to shut down Jake Westbrook.

Westbrook (oblique) reported a setback in his Saturday bullpen session and told reporters it's "hard to imagine" he'll be returning this season. The Cardinals will go forward with Lance Lynn and Chris Carpenter in their starting rotation. Westbrook could return for the postseason if St. Louis holds onto to their current lead in the NL Wild Card.

Jake Westbrook (oblique) was unable to complete his scheduled bullpen session Saturday.

Westbrook is still dealing with general soreness, but it's possible he may have suffered a setback. He now seems doubtful to rejoin the Cardinals' early next week, and could be shutdown for the regular season.

Jake Westbrook didn't throw a scheduled bullpen session Friday due to soreness in his right oblique.

The Cardinals aren't really viewing it as a setback, as Westbrook played catch instead and plans to throw a bullpen session Saturday. He could still rejoin the rotation early next week in Houston.

Jake Westbrook (oblique) said his 40-45 pitch bullpen session Wednesday went "great."

It was the first time he's thrown from the bump since straining his oblique during a September 8 start. "It was great," said Westbrook. "It felt better than I thought it was going to. The two days of playing catch [earlier this week] helped. I felt really good. I didn't feel anything with my side. That's encouraging." Westbrook will throw another bullpen session Friday and will likely rejoin the Cards' rotation early next week if it goes well.

Jake Westbrook (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday.

The news was revealed during FOX Sports Net's broadcast Tuesday. Westbrook was slated to play catch Monday, and that evidently went well. The veteran right-hander is hoping to rejoin the Cardinals' rotation early next week.

Jake Westbrook (oblique) is scheduled to play catch Monday.

It will be his first time throwing since suffering an oblique injury during his September 8 start. Westbrook is aiming to rejoin the rotation on September 24 in Houston, though obviously he's still got some hurdles to jump before being cleared to return.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said in an interview on 590 The Fan Friday that Jake Westbrook (oblique) isn't expected back until the final week of the season.

The Cardinals at this point have only said that the right-hander would miss one start, but it sounds like he could miss three. Lance Lynn pitched well in Westbrook's place Thursday and is in line to make at least one more start.

Jake Westbrook is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his strained right oblique Monday afternoon.

Westbrook suffered the injury near the end of his start Saturday night against the Brewers. He has already been ruled out for his next turn in the starting rotation and could be done for the rest of the regular season if the strain is at all severe. Lance Lynn, Trevor Rosenthal and Shelby Miller are the candidates to fill in for the veteran righty.

Jake Westbrook will miss at least one start due to a strained right oblique.

The severity of the injury isn't known at this point, but Westbrook will at least miss a big start next week against the Dodgers. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny wouldn't say who will take the righty's spot in the rotation, but he has a few options in Lance Lynn, Trevor Rosenthal and Shelby Miller.

Jake Westbrook's next start is in jeopardy due to an oblique issue.

Westbrook evidently suffered the injury at some point during his start Saturday, when he allowed three runs over five innings in a loss to the Brewers. It's not clear who would take his spot, but the Cardinals have numerous options, including Lance Lynn, Trevor Rosenthal and Shelby Miller. Westbrook's turn will come up in the big series against the Dodgers next weekend.

Cardinals signed RHP Jake Westbrook to a one-year contract extension with a mutual option for 2014.

The deal essentially triggers Westbrook's $8.5 million mutual option for 2013, while also adding another potential year to his tenure with the Redbrids. Westbrook has posted a 3.50 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 154 1/3 innings this season, bouncing back nicely from a down 2011. He turns 35 years old in late September.

Jake Westbrook allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings Monday in an 8-2 win over the Giants.

Solo homers by Angel Pagan and Buster Posey accounted for the runs allowed. Westbrook struck out four and walked none and has now won four consecutive starts. He'll try to keep the streak going this weekend against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Jake Westbrook eked out six innings in Wednesday's 9-6 win in Colorado, allowing five runs on nine hits and four walks.

Westbrook struck out only two in one of his worst starts of the season, but notched his 10th victory thanks to the Cardinals' red-hot bats. Westbrook has now completed at least six innings of work in 10 straight outings. He'll bring a 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 85/36 K/BB ratio into his Monday home start against the Giants.

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jake Westbrook "full intends on exercising" his half of an $8.5 million mutual option for the 2013 season.

Westbrook has been good this year, sporting a 3.61 ERA and 1.28 WHIP through 20 starts, but he turns 35 years old in September and the Cardinals have some young starting pitching on the way. St. Louis could decide to move on completely or attempt to negotiate a lower salary with the veteran sinkerballer.

Jake Westbrook allowed four runs -- three earned -- over seven innings and struck out six Thursday in the Cardinals' 7-4 win over the Dodgers.

Westbrook gave up five straight singles, two of them of the infield variety, during the Dodgers' four-run fifth innings. Apart from that, he was outstanding, allowing just two other hits. He's 9-8 with a 3.61 ERA.

Jake Westbrook tossed seven scoreless innings Saturday in the Cardinals' trouncing of the Cubs.

Westbrook yielded just three hits and fanned five, cruising easily through the Cubs' punchless batting order. The veteran sinkerballer is now 8-8 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 120 innings this season. He has fanned 77 batters and walked 31.

Jake Westbrook pitched well in a losing effort against the Marlins on Friday, surrendering two runs (one earned) on five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Westbrook walked two and struck out two in the game. He cruised through the first five innings unscathed before allowing an unearned run after a pair of errors in the sixth. An RBI infield single from Jose Reyes in the seventh inning pushed the second run across and put him on hook for the loss. It was Westbrook's fifth quality start in his last six outings, who will head into the All-Star break with a 7-7 record and respectable 3.75 ERA.

Jake Westbrook allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings of Sunday's 5-4 win over the Pirates, striking out six as he improved to 7-6.

Westbrook walked one and served up a three-run homer to Michael McKenry. Coming off a June where he turned in a 3.66 ERA across 32 innings, Westbrook will get the Marlins at home on Friday.