Cardinals veteran Chris Carpenter has not pitched in a Grapefruit League game this spring due to neck discomfort related to a bulging cervical disc. The 36-year-old was expected to serve as St. Louis' Opening Night starter on April 4 against the Marlins, but it's safe to assume that he won't feel well enough for that rapidly-approaching outing and there's even a chance that he could be sidelined for the first couple weeks of the regular season. The Cardinals' contingency plan is 24-year-old right-hander Lance Lynn, who registered a solid 3.12 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 18 major league relief appearances last season, striking out 40 batters and walking only 11 across 34 2/3 frames. He has made only two big league starts in his career, but the former supplemental first-round draft pick was a highly successful starter at various levels of the Cards' minor league system and seems capable of posting quality numbers if offered a few early-season looks. Which makes him a guy worth watching in NL-only and deeper mixed fantasy formats. This is just one story we'll be tracking all spring in our award-winning Online Draft Guide. Stay up-to-date with Rotoworld. Dominate your league.
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