Cards awaiting MRI results on closer Hicks

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks has triceps tendinitis in his right arm and is day to day after exiting in the ninth inning of Saturday afternoon's 4-2 win over the Angels at Busch Stadium.

Hicks felt a pull in his triceps during his last few throws to David Fletcher, who struck out swinging. Catcher Yadier Molina noticed Hicks reaching over his head, trying to stretch out his arm, so Molina visited the mound and motioned to Cardinals manager Mike Shildt and athletic trainer Adam Olsen to check on Hicks. Shildt said Hicks could have gotten the last out, but they didn't want to push it.

Hicks underwent tests postgame to make sure the injury wasn't to his elbow, and he passed those tests. Hicks didn't feel any pain when he put pressure on it, only when throwing. Hicks was set to have an MRI on his right arm on Monday, according to a report by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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Shildt noted Sunday that the injury isn't anything structural and said Hicks will require a few days of rest. He also said that the Cardinals' medical staff was optimistic.

"Everyone feels good about the fact that there is just some tendinitis and some swelling in his triceps that we used some medications to get out," Shildt said Sunday. "Clearly, he'll need a little bit of downtime, but really confident from the doctors and the medical team that it's not anything structural."

Shildt said they will know more about how long that rest will be within the next few days. The Cardinals would consider putting Hicks on the injured list if the rest runs into next weekend, but they hope it won't come to that point.

"We'll consider it, but we don't feel like we have to do it just to do it if he can get back to pitch Wednesday or even Friday," Shildt said.

Hicks entered the game in the eighth inning and struck out Mike Trout looking -- a matchup of one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the game vs. perhaps the best player in the game. Hicks threw an 84.4 mph slider on the outside of the plate to end the at-bat.

After giving up a home run to Justin Upton one batter later, Hicks faced Albert Pujols leading off the ninth and got him to ground out.

"Struck out Mike Trout, that's pretty cool," Hicks said Saturday. "I don't think he was expecting a slider. Pujols, that was a nice AB. Good ovation for him for every at-bat he was here -- he deserves it. Pretty cool experience."

Worth noting

• Adam Wainwright will pitch Wednesday against the A's, giving him six days' rest after his start Thursday against the Marlins. The three off-days between Sunday and the All-Star break will allow the Cardinals to give their rotation more rest between starts.

• Jack Ralston, the Cardinals' seventh-round Draft pick, signed with the club for a full-pick value $204,800, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. The UCLA starter took a big jump his redshirt junior year and was one of the most consistent starters for the Bruins this year.

• Busch Stadium will host the Stanley Cup on Wednesday, when the Cardinals play the A's, celebrating the Blues' Stanley Cup victory and welcoming Blues players to the game for pregame and in-game ceremonies.