Cardinals lefthander Mark Mulder could begin a rehab assignment as early as next week, general manager Walt Jocketty confirmed Tuesday.
Mulder, who is nearing the end of his 11-month recovery from shoulder surgery, threw a simulated game in Jupiter, Fla., on Monday.
Mark Mulder is going to be heavily relied on when he comes back with former Cy Young award winner Chris Carpenter out for the season and most of next after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in July.
It has not been determined how many rehab starts the lefty will need, though an assignment next week could put him on track to pitch in the majors by early September.
Mulder, who had his rotator cuff repaired in September, threw approximately 30 pitches in a game situation Monday and then another 25 in a side session. If Mulder comes back to the form he was as an Oakland Athletic, it could be a huge boost for the Cardinals in their hopes defending their title.
