Chris Carpenter (shoulder) will fly to Dallas on Thursday morning to meet with a nerve specialist. The goal is to receive a fresh opinion on Carpenter's nerve issues from someone who has never examined him. The veteran right-hander had a live batting practice session canceled Monday but was able to long-toss Wednesday after he was encouraged by how he felt when he woke up. "I woke up (Tuesday) feeling a lot better," Carpenter said. "Today felt good enough to play catch. It's good. I still have a little ways to go. The way I felt two days, three days ago compared to now it's definitely at a place where it feels good, much different." The Cards are still hoping to get Carp back sometime in July, but it's not a set timetable.

Chris Carpenter didn't throw to hitters Monday as scheduled after feeling weakness. The Cardinals discussed the possibility of a rehab assignment if his throwing session went well on Monday, but that obviously won't happen now. While it's not a major concern, he won't throw again until the team returns home later this week.

Chris Carpenter (shoulder) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday. It's the next step after Carpenter got through a handful of bullpen sessions without any issues. He'll probably throw to hitters another time or two before being cleared to begin a rehab assignment. Carp is hoping to be back shortly after the All-Star break.

Chris Carpenter (shoulder) threw a fourth bullpen session Wednesday and will be cleared to throw live batting practice this weekend if he doesn't have any soreness Thursday. "The last few bullpens have been full-effort with all my pitches, making sure that I'm doing all the things I need to do to progress to that next step," Carpenter said. "I feel good. I really do. My shoulder feels good. My body feels good. The effort level has been there, too." Cards manager Mike Matheny said Carpenter has looked "sharp" during his bullpen sessions and that he's "excited" how he's progressed. If he doesn't have any setbacks, Carp should be back shortly after the All-Star break.

Chris Carpenter (shoulder) could be ready to throw live batting practice to teammates by this weekend. Carpenter had a third successful bullpen session Monday and will be cleared to face hitters if he can get through another pen session Wednesday without any issues. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that while Carp "prefers to downplay" the results of his throwing sessions, the early indications are "overwhelmingly positive." It's still early, but things are looking good for his return shortly after the All-Star break.

Chris Carpenter (neck, shoulder) threw 40 pitches off a mound Friday. Carpenter ''mixed in his first curveballs'' since mid-March and said he would throw again Monday before joining the team on its trip to Detroit. The Cardinals are expected to provide an update on his status Wednesday.

Chris Carpenter (neck, shoulder) threw 26 pitches off a mound Wednesday. It was his first time throwing off a mound since being shut down during spring training. Carpenter said that he felt good, but we should have a better idea on his progress as he continues to build up his workload. If all goes well, he should be a factor for the Cardinals during the second half of the season.

Chris Carpenter (neck, shoulder) is aiming to throw off a mound at some point this week. "Where I'm at right now compares to where I'm at when I start preparing myself to go to spring training," Carpenter told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I've been doing everything: strengthening my upper body, running, everything. I feel great." He's currently on track to return in about five weeks, but there's no guarantee that the veteran right-hander will be able to avoid setbacks.

Cardinals transferred RHP Chris Carpenter from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. It doesn't change his timetable, as Carp has already missed 60 days and could theoretically be activated at any time. The veteran right-hander has resumed throwing, and the latest reports on him have been positive, but he won't be back before the All-Star break.

Chris Carpenter (shoulder) will begin playing catch Monday. Carp recently began throwing a weighted ball into a net and felt no discomfort from a nerve condition that started in his neck and led to shoulder weakness. It appears that he's a little ahead of schedule, as the veteran righty wasn't projected to resume a throwing program until at least mid-June. "I'll be excited when I get back on the mound out there. At this point in time, I thought I was already past that," Carpenter said. "Right now, it's hard to know what to expect. I'll say it's exciting to the extent that it's moving in the right direction."