Mike Matheny, Cardinals manager's upcoming back surgery sends him back to St. Louis

Associated Press

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- Cardinals manager Mike Matheny plans to leave the team after Sunday's spring training game and return to St. Louis for surgery to repair a ruptured disk in his lower back.

Matheny expects to be back at spring training for Thursday's game against Atlanta in Jupiter.

The 42-year-old said early in spring training that the injury probably traces back to his days as a big league catcher from 1994-06.

The ruptured disk sends pain into his right leg, which became severe on Feb. 28 and caused him to skip the next day's game against Houston at Kissimmee.

An epidural injection on March 4 failed to relieve the pain.