Chris Carpenter Expected to Start Game 1 Despite Elbow Inflammation

Chris Carpenter is poised to start Wednesday’s World Series opener for the Cardinals despite reports that he is dealing with inflammation in his right elbow.  St. Louis told reporters Sunday that Carpenter was fine and that his elbow is a non-issue.  But, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, sources around the Cardinals said that the club was worried about Carpenter following his start in game three of the National League Championship Series.

St. Louis has not officially announced its rosters and rotations, but yesterday pitching coach Dave Duncan told Strauss that Carpenter is “well-positioned to start” game one of the World Series.  This jives with what the Cardinals had been saying since clinching their World Series berth Sunday night.

But, behind these public statements, Strauss was told that there was concern building regarding Carpenter and his elbow.  One member of the Cardinals went as far as saying that “nothing good came out of” Carpenter’s game three start, in which he labored through five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks.

Following the start, Carpenter reportedly experienced inflammation and swelling in his elbow and underwent extensive treatment to prepare his arm for a possible game seven.  Because the Cardinals took the series in six, Carpenter will now be able to pitch game one on extended rest.  Those around Carpenter told reporters that the right-hander’s condition has greatly improved since this weekend.

It will be interesting to see which Carpenter the Cardinals get tomorrow, the one that outpitched Roy Halladay in game five of the NLDS or the one that struggled to make it through five frames last Wednesday.

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