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.

Mikolas attributes the shoulder soreness that's kept him out of Grapefruit League play to having overthrown when facing live hitters for the first time this spring Feb. 25, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. "I think I just might have overdid it," Mikolas said. "Maybe I should have kept one foot on the brake for another live BP or two before I let it go."

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander was able to play catch without setbacks Wednesday, a cautiously optimistic sign. Mikolas is already ruled out for his first regular-season turn in the rotation, but he remains positive about being able to return shortly thereafter and noted "I don't see myself missing a whole lot of time."

Mikolas (shoulder) responded well to a catch session Wednesday, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Any news of Mikolas' ailing shoulder responding well to physical activity is welcome at this point, but the right-hander will naturally still continue to be treated with caution. Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports Mikolas will play catch at least once more in coming days before a more concrete plan for his next steps is developed, but the 32-year-old has already been ruled out of his first regular-season turn through the rotation.

Mikolas (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for 7-to-10 days after the evaluation of Thursday's MRI, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Mike Shildt said "early returns are favorable" following the MRI on Thursday, but the right-hander will still be prevented from throwing for at least a week while dealing with the shoulder soreness. Mikolas hasn't officially been ruled out for Opening Day, but it's safe to assume he'll begin the season on the injured list since he hasn't thrown off a mound since Feb. 25 and will likely be unable to be built up to a starter's workload.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Thursday that recent imaging conducted on Mikolas' right shoulder revealed no structural damage, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports. "Early returns are favorable," Shildt said. "Nothing in the imaging that dictated anything invasive."

EDGE Analysis

Fortunately for Mikolas, he looks to be dealing with nothing more than soreness in his shoulder, so the Cardinals will have him back off his throwing program for a bit with the hope that extra rest helps remedy the issue. Even though he's not expected to be shut down for an extended period, Mikolas looks unlikely to be built up for a starter's workload by the time Opening Day arrives. If Mikolas indeed opens the season on the injured list, Daniel Ponce de Leon, John Gant and Johan Oviedo would likely be the top candidates to fill his spot in the rotation.