NEW YORK (AP) -- Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter is slated to return to the rotation this week after missing almost all of last season with an elbow injury.

Carpenter is expected at Wednesday's game against Atlanta. He hurt his elbow on opening day 2007 and had reconstructive surgery last July.

In the past week, he's looked strong at a Triple-A game for Memphis and a Double-A game for Springfield.

St. Louis manager Tony Russa says Carpenter's return is good news. The Cardinals have lost in a row, and the pitching staff has been mired in injuries.

Adam Wainwright hasn't pitched since June 7th because of a ruptured tendon in a finger on his pitching hand. And Mark Mulder is struggling to come back from two shoulder operations.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)