Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha to begin throwing program

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will resume throwing Tuesday for the first time since going on the disabled list on June 17 due to a stress reaction in his right scapula.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will resume throwing Tuesday for the first time since going on the disabled list, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Wacha landed on the DL on June 17 due to a stress reaction in his right scapula. He began a pre-throwing program July 29 with the hope that he'd begin throwing in two weeks, which means he's kept to that timeline.

While Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said two weeks ago he hoped Wacha would be back in early September, he refused to give a timeline Tuesday of when Wacha might return, according to the Post-Dispatch. But Mozeliak did say the training staff is optimistic Wacha will pitch again this year.

Mozeliak said Wacha, who had an MRI on Monday, would be re-evaluated again in two weeks to ascertain how his shoulder has reacted to the stress of the throwing program. But Mozeliak said, “It’s shown a lot of healing. The inflammation appears to be down in that area. Now, he’s ready for that next step.”

Wacha made 15 starts before he hit the disabled list, going 5-5 with a 2.79 ERA.

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- Ben Estes