Around NL Central Spring Training: MRI For Pujols

Cardinals: Albert Pujols left camp Monday to undergo an MRI and receive a cortisone shot in his back, which continues to bother him. Team officials said the MRI was needed to target the area of discomfort. Pujols is expected to miss a few days, and has already missed almost two weeks this spring with the issue.

Reds: Aroldis Chapman’s bid to make the team out of spring training might have been derailed Monday when he was forced to leave his start in the second inning with stiffness in his back. He returned to the Reds’ complex to be evaluated. John Fay speculates that Chapman, who will likely be shut down for a few days and has yet to throw more than three innings in a game this spring, probably couldn’t be stretched out in time to start on April 11, when the Reds will need a fifth starter.

Pirates: Kevin Hart has officially pitched his way out of the rotation. After walking four batters in 3.1 innings in a minor league game Monday, Hart was optioned to the minors as part of the Pirates’ most recent cuts Tuesday morning. Hart posted a 6.92 ERA in ten starts after coming over from the Cubs in 2009.

Brewers: After spending the spring attempting to decide between Manny Parra, Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan and Chris Narveson for the final two spots in the rotation, Tom Haudricourt reports that the Brewers are considering keeping all four on the Opening Day roster, using an open bullpen slot and optioning Carlos Villanueva to the minors to make room. All four starters are either out of options or would have the right to refuse an assignment to the minors, while Villanueva has an option remaining and has posted a 4.66 ERA in six spring outings, allowing ten hits in nine innings.

Cubs: Ted Lilly is one step closer to returning to action, as he threw 35 pitches in a three inning simulated game Monday. He hopes to appear in a Cactus League game soon, and could return to the starting rotation as soon as mid-April.

Astros: Wandy Rodriguez continues to have a rough spring: He allowed five runs in the first inning Monday and needed 90 pitches to get through four innings. All told, Rodriguez has allowed 20 hits, four walks and hit a batter in 13 innings of work this spring en route to a 9.69 ERA.