Mark Mulder threw off the mound for the first time since September shoulder surgery on Monday.
This is the second consecutive offseason in which Mulder has undergone shoulder surgery, and he says his arm doesn't feel the same restrictions it felt last year, when he was forced to have more surgery after just three starts. Mulder's throwing program could have him back in the rotation by early May.
This would be huge for the Cards but no reason to rush him. If Mulder could come back and be effective in May, the Cards could hang in the Central until Carpenter comes back after the AS break. The Cards offense is going to be much better which is why I say they can at least hang.