Deja vu all over again for Chris Carpenter

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter was scratched from his last start of the spring due to a sore calf. But considering the ace's injury history, there was a feeling of deja vu all over again with Carpenter. Otherwise, he pitched extremely well this spring.

In the 10 innings Carpenter has pitched this season, he hasn't given up an earned run and has nine strikeouts.

But it's going to be a while before he pitches again.

Carpenter was placed on the 15-day disabled list today. He suffered a strained rib cage in his start yesterday at Arizona.

After feeling a pinch in the torso area after his last at bat in the game, it progressively got worse as he warmed up the next inning.

“I felt it just a little bit on that swing,” Carpenter said, “and then every warmup pitch it got worse and worse. There’s nothing I can do about it but come out.”

As Carpenter puts it, if you're a glass-half-guy kinda guy, it's a “fortunate thing” that the injury doesn't involve his elbow and/or shoulder.

Chris Carpenter scratched from last start

Over the past couple of seasons, St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter has battled serious injuries.

Scheduled to make a start this Friday, Carpenter has been scratched due to soreness in his calf. But it appears to only be a cautionary move.

“He could pitch if it was the regular season,” manager Tony La Russa said. “But we don’t need to push."

Carpenter has pitched extremely well throughout spring training. Through 23 2/3 innings pitched, Carpenter has an ERA of 1.52 and a 2-1 record.

In 2008, Carpenter had an ERA of 1.76, but he made only three starts and pitched only 15 1/3 innings.