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(AP) - St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter has resumed a throwing program after recovering from a compressed nerve in his shoulder.

But the Cardinals don't know if he'll be able to pitch this season.

General manager John Mozeliak said Friday it's too early to say whether to be optimistic about the 2005 NL Cy Young winner, who won a game in each round of the postseason last fall.

Team doctors identified the injury as thoracic outlet syndrome, and Mozeliak said Carpenter could undergo surgery in the offseason that could sideline him as long as a year.

Both Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny said the team would take it day by day with the 37-year-old Carpenter.

The news is more encouraging with first baseman Lance Berkman, out with a knee injury since late May. He is scheduled to join the team Sunday to begin baseball activities.

Left-hander Jaime Garcia, sidelined by a shoulder strain since early June, is set to begin a throwing program on Tuesday but is not expected back before August.

Right-handed reliever Kyle McClellan, who has an elbow strain, also could begin a throwing program next week that'll put him on track to return in August.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)