Right-hander Brad Penny of St. Louis Cardinals is optimistic that he will pitch again this season, although he is not sure when exactly he will get the opportunity.
Since late May, Penny sidelined with an upper back injury. For about a week, he has played catch every day, but the team has yet to schedule a bullpen session.
Penny told the press, “Just playing catch. No changed status for me, at all. I’ll be able to tell you something when I find out.”
Than Penny, who is 3-4 with a 3.23 ERA in nine starts, Manager Tony La Russa seemed more enthusiastic. In the MLB offseason, Penny signed a one-year, $7.5 million free agent contract and he is hungry to return to a rotation bolstered by the trade deadline acquisition of Jake Westbrook.
Penny said, “I hope so. I’ll do everything I can. But like I said, I’ve got to test it. It’s not like when you throw on flat ground, just regular catch.”
Against the Houston Astros, the opener of a three-game series was the 61st game that Penny has missed this season. Since late May, the Cardinals have also been without Kyle Lohse, filling in with Jeff Suppanand Blake Hawksworth.
Start coming off forearm surgery on Thursday, Lohse is set to throw his third rehab with Double-A Springfield and could return next week.Penny was definitely not being counted out the rest of the season, said La Russa.
La Russa said, “Yeah, he’s making noise. He’s feeling pretty good, but he’s a lot of steps away. He definitely isn’t done for the season, in his mind or in ours.”
Stay tuned for more information about Brad’s injury and how it may effect the St. Louis Cardinals baseball betting odds.
