Mikolas (shoulder) made a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday and took a loss to Durham, allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas worked up to 57 pitches -- 39 which found the strike zone -- but he also got off on the wrong foot by yielding a solo home run to Rays prospect Vidal Brujan in the first inning. However, the right-hander's ability to tolerate a relatively robust workload in his first taste of competitive game action since 2019 was encouraging, and if his shoulder responds well in the coming days, he could be back in the big leagues within the next few weeks.

Mikolas (shoulder) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Memphis, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old threw two innings at the alternate training site last weekend and will progress to minor-league action when that season begins this week. Mikolas is on track for a return in late May, as he should require a lengthy rehab assignment since he hasn't pitched in the majors since September 2019.

Mikolas (shoulder) threw two innings at the Cardinals' alternate training site Sunday, the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander's progress has been fairly deliberate, yet Sunday's activity level is certainly encouraging. Mikolas likely is still multiple weeks away from making his regular-season debut despite his recent progress, but the fact he's been free of setbacks for multiple weeks at this point is a bright spot.

Mikolas (shoulder) recently faced live hitters for the first time since late February, but he still projects for a late-May season debut at the earliest, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has been limited to fastballs and changeups thus far in his throwing sessions for precautionary reasons, which underscores how much he still realistically has to go to be ready for game action. Manager Mike Shildt currently compares Mikolas to a pitcher who's just starting to ramp up for Grapefruit League starts in late February, and the veteran will look to next incorporate breaking balls into a batting practice session for the first time in his rehabilitation process.

Mikolas (shoulder) threw a simulated game Sunday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas threw an aggressive bullpen session earlier in the week, and he faced hitters Sunday for the first time since he sustained his shoulder injury Feb. 25. The right-hander threw fastballs and changeups during Sunday's simulated game and reportedly felt good afterward. Mikolas will likely throw a live batting practice in the near future that incorporates more breaking balls and could progress to a more traditional rehab process afterward.

Mikolas (shoulder) threw what manager Mike Shildt described as an aggressive bullpen earlier in the week and recovered favorably, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports. "He's in a good place and he's creeping toward live BP," Shildt said. "He's starting to throw uninhibited with some good velocity and command and using all of his pitches."

EDGE Analysis

It's been a slow road to recovery for the veteran right-hander, who originally suffered his injury when first facing live hitters this spring back on Feb. 25. Mikolas' progression has been a series of fits and starts since then, but he's seemingly been without setbacks since spring training concluded and could be close to throwing a live batting practice as the next step in his recovery program.

Mikolas (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas was shut down in mid-March after experiencing shoulder soreness, but he's resumed mound work recently. The right-hander will likely require at least one more bullpen session before he's cleared to face hitters for the first time since the first week of spring training. While Mikolas' progress has been encouraging so far, it's still not clear when he could return to game action.

Mikolas (shoulder) will soon report to the Cardinals' alternate training site to continue his rehabilitation, the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander was progressively boosting his activity level before spring training ended. A move to the alternate training site will allow Mikolas a chance to face hitters in simulated games, a necessary requirement to prepare him for an eventual regular-season debut.

The Cardinals placed Mikolas (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas' move to the IL to begin the season was inevitable after he was shut down in mid-March after experiencing shoulder soreness. The right-hander has since been cleared to resume throwing off flat ground, and he should be able to step on the mound for a bullpen session early this week before the Cardinals head north for the start of the season. Assuming he avoids any further setbacks with his shoulder, Mikolas will still need a few more weeks to get his arm fully ramped up and conditioned for a starter's workload, so he likely won't be ready to make his 2021 debut until late April or early May.

Mikolas (shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session before spring training ends, but he likely won't face live hitters until he arrives at the team's alternate training site, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander has been able to resume playing catch without setbacks, but the team is clearly adopting a cautious approach with him after Mikolas recently conceded his current shoulder troubles stem from having overthrown his first time facing hitters. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak noted Wednesday that a firmer timeline of when Mikolas might be able to make his regular-season debut won't be determined until the team sees how he responds to upcoming increase in activity level.