ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia will be shut down for a month due to an injury the team is calling a left shoulder strain and could be sidelined as long as two months.
It's the latest big hit for a World Series championship team ravaged by injuries.
Two doctors have recommended rehab rather than surgery and the left-hander is scheduled to meet with Dr. James Andrews on Monday, an off day for the team.
Garcia was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday and visited Dr. Lewis Yocum on Friday in Los Angeles. Yocum agreed with the diagnosis of Cardinals team physician Dr. George Paletta, that Garcia has some tearing in the labrum and rotator cuff.
"They truly believe the rehab's going to help, and that's what's in my head now," Garcia said Saturday. "I'm not thinking about surgery. There's nothing else I'm going to be thinking about."
Garcia is the second member of the rotation to be sidelined. Chris Carpenter, who won a game in each playoff round last fall, has yet to pitch and is probably at least a month away. Lance Berkman has played just 13 games due to injuries. Allen Craig, Jon Jay, Skip Schumaker and Kyle McClellan have missed considerable time for St. Louis, which had lost seven of 10 entering Saturday night's interleague game against the Indians.
"There's so many uncertainties with Jaime," manager Mike Matheny said. "For him to maybe have a break and come back better than ever, is something I see as a positive."
The 25-year-old Garcia was a 13-game winner each of his first two seasons, but hasn't felt right from the start of 2012, losing several mph on his fastball and struggling to find the proper arm slot. He lasted just lasted just two innings in his last start and is 3-4 with a 4.48 ERA.
Right-hander Joe Kelly will make his major league debut Sunday against the Indians, taking Garcia's spot in the rotation. The 24-year-old Kelly is 2-5, but with a 2.86 ERA at Triple A-Memphis.
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