Chris Carpenter (shoulder) returned to Cardinals' camp on Monday and is expected to resume a strength and conditioning program in the middle of the week.

Carpenter was diagnosed with nerve irritation in his throwing shoulder last week after undergoing a series of tests in St. Louis. It's not clear how long it will take before he's ready to return to the mound, but the veteran right-hander is confident he'll pitch this season. "We have to just get my shoulder strong and stabilized, so I can get back out there throwing and stay there," Carpenter said. "I have it get it strong, and when I get it strong, I'll be ready to come back." It's safe to rule Carpenter out until at least May, so exercise caution on draft day. Lance Lynn is slated to replace him in the starting rotation and makes for a smart buy in NL-only and even some deeper mixed formats.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Saturday that surgery is "not even on the table" with Chris Carpenter.

"The best way to look at it is that at least we have an understanding of what the next step looks like,'' Mozeliak said. "We're optimistic that Carp's going to be able to pitch this year. We hope that it's sooner, rather than later.'' Carpenter will need to re-strengthen his shoulder, similar to what he did in 2008, before returning to the starting rotation. Lance Lynn is expected to start the fourth game of the season in Milwaukee.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Friday that Chris Carpenter is dealing with a nerve issue in his right shoulder.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was told by a club source that what he's hearing about Chris Carpenter (neck) "isn't good."

Carpenter was sent back to St. Louis for testing after feeling renewed discomfort in his neck and upper arm on Monday. The veteran right-hander was initially diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc, but he is now being tested for nerve issues, which is something he has dealt with on multiple occasions in the past. Cards' general manager John Mozeliak indicated Wednesday that surgery is not on the table.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak conceded Wednesday that Chris Carpenter's current neck issue appears similar to the nerve-related condition that he has dealt with in previous seasons.

The Cardinals recently expressed relief that Carpenter didn't have nerve damage after he was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc, but it's clear that the issue is more serious than initially believed. The 36-year-old right-hander previously dealt with nerve issues in 2004, 2008 and 2010. He consulted Wednesday with the specialists he visited following the 2008 season, but the option of surgery was rejected. It's not clear what the next step will be, but he's highly unlikely to be ready for the early part of the season. Lance Lynn will take his spot in the rotation for now.

Chris Carpenter returned to St. Louis on Tuesday to be further evaluated after feeling renewed discomfort in his neck and upper arm on Monday.

Bad news. Carpenter was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc earlier this month, but had made encouraging progress over the past few days. He was scheduled to throw live batting practice on Wednesday, but that session has been cancelled so he can be examined. It now appears likely he'll begin the season on the disabled list, with Kyle Lohse making the start on Opening Day and Lance Lynn replacing him in the starting rotation.

Chris Carpenter (neck) is scheduled to throw live batting practice again on Wednesday.

If that workout goes well, Carpenter could be cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut by the weekend. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Disptach on Monday that there's still a chance the 36-year-old right-hander will be ready to start on Opening Night in Miami. "We were only talking about him having two or three (spring starts) from Day 1," Matheny explained. " So we're just going to kind of watch all this. As of right now we're going to leave it limbo." Carp was diagnosed earlier this month with a bulging cervical disc.

Though he says they "haven't ruled anything out," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny conceded that getting Chris Carpenter (neck) ready by Opening Day "would be pushing it."

Carpenter has progressed well recently, throwing a successful bullpen session Friday and then a 40-pitch batting practice session Sunday, but he's simply running out of time. It's not clear when he'll make his first Grapefruit League appearance, and he'll likely need at least three starts before being deemed fit for the regular season. He'll likely start the season on the disabled list or at the very least be held back until the team needs a fifth starter.

Chris Carpenter (neck) will throw live batting practice to hitters Sunday.

Another positive sign for the right-hander. Carpenter had a successful bullpen session Friday and evidently is feeling well enough to take the next step. Assuming the batting practice session goes as planned, we would think Carp should be able to appear in a game sometime later this week.

Chris Carpenter (neck) said his bullpen session Friday went better than he expected.

Carp threw 25-30 fastballs at about 75 percent effort. The Cardinals will wait and see Saturday how he feels before deciding on the next step, but the treatment for the right-hander's neck is finished, and he'll now focus on strengthening the muscles in his neck so he doesn't have any more issues. Things are moving in the right direction, but it's not clear when he'll appear in a game or if he'll be ready by the start of the season.

Chris Carpenter (neck) threw a bullpen session Friday.

Carp played catch Wednesday and long-tossed Thursday and evidently felt well enough to take it to the mound. It's good news for the right-hander, though it's still not clear when he'll be able to appear in a game. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Carp wouldn't necessarily have to face live hitters before appearing in a game, so it sounds like he could conceivably see some Grapefruit League action shortly. Even if he continues to progress, it still seems like a better bet that Carp will start the season on the DL or the Cards will at least hold him back until they need a fifth starter.

Chris Carpenter (neck) played catch Wednesday.

Chris Carpenter (neck) said Monday that he is not yet ready to begin throwing but is feeling better.

Carpenter was diagnosed this weekend with a bulging cervical disc. It's been causing him discomfort for over a week, and could delay his regular season debut if it leaves him stalled for much longer. Lance Lynn is being stretched out as a starter in case the 36-year-old right-hander is not where he needs to be in early April.

Appearing on ESPN 101 St. Louis, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said that the organization is considering a backup plan if Chris Carpenter (neck) is unavailable for the start of the regular season.

Carpenter was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc in his neck on Saturday. ''Right now, he's progressing,'' Mozeliak said. "Internally, we've discussed it [a backup plan]. We definitely think we need to implement that so I think over this week you'll see someone start to stretch out."

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Chris Carpenter (neck) is progressing and he hopes the right-hander can resume throwing again soon.

The Cards are expected to come up with a plan for Carpenter, who has been diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc in his neck, sometime this week. Just to be safe, they'll also be stretching someone else out in case Carp isn't ready by the start of the season, though it's not clear at this point who that will be. The veteran right-hander has indicated that he expects to be ready by Opening Day.

Chris Carpenter has received an injection and been prescribed anti-inflammatory medication to address a bulging cervical disc in his neck.

The diagnosis sounds bad, but Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the Cardinals drew a sigh of relief with the diagnosis and Carpenter considers the ailment "a nuisance rather than a threat to his season" as a nerve issue might have been. "When you're thinking of what could have been some really bad (stuff), we can take care of this and move on," Carpenter said. The Cardinals are expected to come up with a plan for Carpenter this week, and we'll have a better idea at that point whether or not he has a shot to be ready by Opening Day. For what it's worth, Carp says he's "not concerned" about his readiness for April 4.

Chris Carpenter was diagnosed Saturday with a bulging cervical disc in his neck.

The Cardinals haven't decided when the veteran right-hander is going to be able to resume throwing, but Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a bulging disc is "not nearly as bad as nerve damage," which the Cards originally thought Carpenter had. He has yet to make an appearance in a Grapefruit League game this spring and is currently questionable for Opening Day.

The results from an exam of Chris Carpenter's neck have been sent to St. Louis to be reviewed by specialists.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak says it's a "nerve-related" issue that Carp is dealing with. "They still need to get some of the information analyzed and compared with some past history," Mozeliak said. "We have to be patient and understand that it may take a few days before we determine what the future looks like." Although it's still possible it could turn out to be not that big of a deal, a nerve issue carries more risk for a potentially long-term problem than a muscular issue would. The Cards are hoping for a diagnosis sometime this weekend.

Chris Carpenter (neck) has been scratched from Monday's start.

It's officially time to start worrying about his status for the beginning of the season. Carp has left Cardinals camp and will be re-evaluated by a Florida doctor. The veteran right-hander has been dealing with some neck stiffness for nearly a week and can't seem to shake it. That, combined with the fact that the team had already planned on limiting his action this spring due to a huge workload last year, makes him a risky fantasy proposition at this stage.

Chris Carpenter (neck) will not throw on Friday.

Carpenter has been dealing with some neck stiffness for nearly a week, and it's possible he might be scratched from his first spring outing next Monday. At this point, it doesn't seem to be a big concern, and Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said previously the Cards are "minimizing (the) situation." But, if Carp isn't ready on Monday, the odds that he starts the season on the DL obviously increase.