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.

Mikolas won't throw his scheduled bullpen Wednesday as his shoulder soreness isn't progressing as the Cardinals hoped, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

EDGE Analysis

A forearm injury cost Mikolas all of last season, but it's a shoulder problem that's bothering him so far this year. The issue has so far merely been referred to as stiffness or soreness, but the latest setback indicates that there could be something worse going on. The Cardinals should find that out after Mikolas undergoes further tests. The delay is already casting his readiness for Opening Day in some doubt, and it's possible he winds up being forced to miss an extended period.

Manager Mike Shildt said Mikolas (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old was originally expected to throw a bullpen session Sunday morning, but he instead participated in a light workout and had the session pushed back. Mikolas hasn't throw off a mound since Feb. 25, and Shildt wouldn't commit to the right-hander's availability for Opening Day.

Mikolas (shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Mike Shildt previously said the 32-year-old was slated for a bullpen session Sunday morning, but the right-hander instead took part in a light workout. Mikolas was scratched from a simulated game early last week due to the shoulder issue and has yet to make it back on the mound. He missed the entirety of last season due to flexor tendon surgery, so the team is being cautious early in camp.

Mikolas (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas was scratched from a simulated game Monday due to shoulder issues and his progress remains slow. If he checks out fine following the bullpen session, he could be cleared for game action soon thereafter, keeping him in the mix for the Opening Day roster, though the Cardinals are likely to remain cautious with him after he missed all of last season due to flexor tendon surgery. While it's a positive that his current injury woes aren't related to that issue, it's still certainly not good to see a pitcher battling arm troubles so early in camp.