St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright will open the season on the injured list with a strained groin.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters Thursday that Wainwright sustained the injury during a weight room workout Tuesday ahead of Team USA’s World Baseball Classic championship game vs. Japan.
Marmol said Wainwright likely will miss “several weeks.”
Wainwright, who sports a 195-117 career record with the Cardinals, has announced that this will be his final season.
Wainwright last pitched Sunday, throwing four innings for Team USA against Cuba in the WBC semifinals.
Wainwright, 41, is a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He has a career 3.38 ERA in 457 games (390 starts) for the Cardinals.
Jake Woodford, 26, is expected to take Wainwright’s spot in the starting rotation, according to reports. He has 18 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings this spring.
Woodford has appeared in 65 games (10 starts) for the Cardinals over three seasons, sporting an 8-4 record and 3.61 ERA.
–Field Level Media