JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Adam Wainwright bumped fists and smiled following a short bullpen session on Monday, the first since straining his abdominal muscle a week ago. Wainwright didn’t use maximum effort for most of the 30-plus pitch session, but did turn it up for the final five pitches — one of which had bullpen catcher Jamie Pogue hooting and hollering behind the plate.

The Cardinals ace had thrown off flat ground, but Monday was the first time he threw off the mound since injuring himself while placing a 45-pound weight back on the weight rack. Wainwright planned to meet with trainers after the bullpen session to plan his next course of action. Should everything feel right the next step could entail throwing a bullpen session against live hitters.