There could be trouble in St. Louis aside from the team’s inability to lock up Albert Pujols.  Staff ace Adam Wainwright has reportedly injured his elbow, and the initial prognosis is not encouraging.  Wainwright injured the elbow on Monday and will head back to St. Louis to have it officially examined by team doctors.  “There’s a problem with the ligament,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told the New York Daily News.  ”But it doesn’t look good.”  Whispers of Tommy John surgery have already begun to circle, which would be devastating news for the ball club.

Wainwright is one of the best pitchers in the National League and had put together great back-to-back seasons over the last two years.  In 2009, Wainwright led the N.L. in wins, innings and starts, while posting an ERA of 2.63.  The hurler dropped his ERA even further last season, to 2.42, and posted 20 wins.  The Cardinals were unable to win their division in 2010, as the Cincinnati Reds ran away with the National League Central title by the end of the season, and the club’s 2011 prospects certainly take a hit if Wainwright is sidelined for a significant amount of time.

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