Cards' Wainwright to have Tommy John surgery By Sports Network

JUPITER, Fla. -- The St. Louis Cardinals announced Thursday that pitcher Adam Wainwright will need Tommy John surgery, ending his 2011 season before it began.

The news comes a day after the 29-year-old Georgia native left spring training to have his right elbow examined in St. Louis. He apparently felt pain while throwing on Monday.

Wainwright was 20-11 with a 2.42 earned run average in 33 starts last season, finishing second to Philadelphia's Roy Halladay in the Cy Young voting. He missed his final scheduled turn in 2010 because of a forearm strain, which could be related to the current problem.

Wainwright helped the Cardinals to the World Series title in 2006 as a reliever, notching four saves in the postseason. He moved into the starting rotation in 2007 and has posted a record of 64-34 in 119 starts over the past four seasons.