Cardinals' Mikolas likely to miss start of season with forearm soreness

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt told reporters that starting pitcher Miles Mikolas received a second platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday for his sore right forearm, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com.

The 31-year-old righty will rest for three-to-four weeks before starting a throwing program, and then he'll head to minor-league camp to ramp up his pitching, Rogers added. The Cardinals' season begins March 26.

"Just realized it was necessary and gives us a better chance to get him off to a healthy start, get what he's dealing with behind him," Shildt said. "So that’s where we are."

Mikolas received his first injection at the start of the offseason after experiencing issues during the 2019 campaign, but he felt discomfort during his first bullpen session last Thursday, according to Rogers, who adds that an MRI revealed no ligament damage.

"The baseline that we've taken is it's no worse, it's no better, it's the same area," Shildt said. "So we're treating it."

The former All-Star is entering the first season of a four-year, $68-million extension he signed in February 2019.

Mikolas posted a 4.16 ERA last campaign after authoring a 2.83 ERA in 2018. He made 32 starts in each year.