Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright Headed for IL With Groin Injury

The St. Louis projected opening day starter is headed to the injured list after a groin strain during the World Baseball Classic.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will miss his Opening Day start for St. Louis after suffering a groin strain with Team USA during the World Baseball Classic.

The 41-year-old longtime Cardinals pitcher, who said that this will be his final season before retiring, will be placed on the injured list and will miss “the next several weeks,” manager Oliver Marmol told reporters in Jupiter.

Wainwright could miss up to a month, and is expected to go on a rehab assignment in the minors before returning to the major league club. 

“Typically means we’ll continue to evaluate over the next few days, but no timetable for return at the moment,” Marmol told reporters after mentioning that Wainwright was undergoing imaging to determine the extent of the injury.

“There is a spot in the rotation now open, and we’re going to have to sit down and make sure we’re not missing anything that goes into that.”

Wainwright went 11–12 last season in 32 starts, compiling a 3.71 ERA over 191 and two-thirds innings, while striking out 143 batters.