Adam Wainwright's fastball averaged just 89 mph Saturday in his regular-season debut vs. the Brewers. Wainwright allowed three runs and lasted just 5 2/3 innings in the start. His fastball averaged 91.1 mph in 2010, before he underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. "I think it's an ongoing process," the right-hander said Saturday. "... Early on in spring I was throwing quite a bit harder and I had more life on the ball. As my arm gets strong as we go here, it will come."

Adam Wainwright pitched fairly well in his first MLB start since 2010, allowing three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Brewers on Saturday. Wainwright struck out six against only one walk, throwing 56 of his 88 pitches for strikes. Corey Hart tagged him for a solo home run in the second inning, and Rickie Weeks hit an RBI single in the sixth. The final run rode home on Hart's second big fly after Wainwright had departed in the sixth. Most important is that he got through the game looking healthy and strong.

Adam Wainwright shut out the Marlins for five innings and struck out five in a victory Friday. Wainwright isn't pitching like someone who just missed an entire season. He's thrown 14 scoreless innings this spring, allowing just five hits in the process.

Adam Wainwright limited the Marlins to an unearned run and a hit over four innings in the Cardinals' 4-2 victory Sunday. Wainwright, the Cardinals' probable Opening Day starter with Chris Carpenter set back, has yet to allow an earned run over nine innings this spring. He struck out one and walked two in this one.

Adam Wainwright shut out the Mets for three innings as part of a 7-1 Cardinals victory on Tuesday. Wainwright was pitching on three days' rest today as the Cardinals line him up to make the Opening Day start that was expected to go to Chris Carpenter. He's allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings this spring.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) and Jaime Garcia will make will both make their second starts of spring on short rest. The Cardinals are modifying their rotation now that Chris Carpenter (elbow) is expected to miss at least one turn. Wainwright, who tossed two hitless innings against the Twins on Friday, is now scheduled to start Tuesday on three days of rest. Meanwhile, Jamie Garcia will start Monday in a split-squad game, also on three days of rest.

Adam Wainwright will make his Grapefruit League debut Friday and, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is on track to start Opening Day "unless manager Mike Matheny further toggles the alignment." Wainwright had already been scheduled for the Friday outing, but Chris Carpenter's neck issue has now thrust the Tommy John survivor into a likely Opening Day assignment. The right-hander hasn't had any issues in his recovery, but the Cards still figure to take it easy with his workload early in the season.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny confirmed Adam Wainwright will start in Friday's exhibition against the Twins. Wainwright hasn't had any issues in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and is expected to start and throw at least two innings this week. The Cardinals will be careful with his workload initially, but it remains likely that he'll reemerge to his pre-injury form this season.

Adam Wainwright will face hitters Tuesday after skipping his bullpen session Sunday. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported earlier that Wainwright elected not to throw off the mound Sunday after he "felt it" during a live batting practice session Friday. He'll simply throw on flat ground instead Sunday before getting back in the routine Tuesday. It doesn't sound like anything to worry about.

Adam Wainwright (Tommy John surgery) predicted he would be ready for Opening Day after throwing live batting practice for the first time in a year on Friday. ''I noticed there was a little something more than there was before," Wainwright said. "I feel more advanced on the mound than I have at this point in spring training. I don't feel I've lost anything. I feel like I've got a little better respect for the game now. I think I'll be just fine." Wainwright, 30, has yet to experience soreness in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and believes the procedure may allow him to avoid the biceps tendinitis that ''usually finds him at some point each camp.''