Wed May 7 15:04:50 2008

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Another setback for St. Louis' Mulder

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals announced Wednesday that pitcher Mark Mulder has been diagnosed with a mild rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder, and that he will take a week to 10 days off from his rehabilitation assignment.

The 30-year-old left-hander is struggling to recover his form after shoulder surgeries in 2006 and 2007. Mulder has been hit around a bit in four minor league starts this season, posting a 6.66 earned run average.

After his last start, in which he gave up seven runs on nine hits in six innings for Triple-A Memphis on Monday, he felt shoulder fatigue. An examination by Cardinals team physician Dr. George Paletta revealed the injury.

Mulder went 16-8 with a 3.64 ERA for the Cards in 2005 but struggled in 2006, going 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA in 17 starts before undergoing surgery on the shoulder at the end of the season.

He missed almost all of 2007, returning for three starts in September. He lost all three, and was ripped for 22 hits and 17 runs in only 11 innings, posting a 12.27 ERA. His shoulder required additional surgery after the 2007 season.