Carpenter returns to St. Louis to have arm examined

MIAMI -- St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter will return to St. Louis today to have his strained right triceps evaluated.

Carpenter was hopeful Monday of remaining on track for his next start, a day after he was removed from a game in Chicago. The team said in its medical report that Dr. George Paletta would evaluate the injury.

Paletta performed reconstructive surgery on Carpenter's elbow last July. Carpenter, the 2005 NL Cy Young winner, has made three starts this year and had been hopeful of throwing a scheduled side session today.

Another Cardinals player coming off an injury, Rick Ankiel, returned to the lineup after missing 14 games with an abdominal strain. He was batting fifth in the opener of a four-game series against the Marlins.

Ankiel had been limited to pinch-hit duty by the injury, which prevented him from sprinting.

-- AP