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.