St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright will likely miss “several weeks” after suffering a groin strain during the World Baseball Classic, manager Oliver Marmol told reporters on Thursday.
Wainwright, 41, who was scheduled to be the Cardinals’ starter on Opening Day for the seventh time as he enters his 18th season with St. Louis, will begin the season on the injured list, Marmol said.
The injury happened during a weight room workout Tuesday with Team USA during the World Baseball Classic.
Wainwright has thrown 15 innings this spring — seven in Grapefruit League action and another eight during the WBC. He last pitched Sunday in Team USA’s semifinal victory against Cuba, allowing just one run in four innings while earning his second win in two starts in the tournament.
Jake Woodford is the leading candidate to take over Wainwright’s place in the starting rotation.