ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia has been pushed back again and won’t start today (Thursday) for the St. Louis Cardinals because of what the pitcher calls a left groin strain. The left-hander and the team are confident he won’t be placed on the 15-day disabled list. Garcia could start early next week in Chicago against the Cubs.

Manager Mike Matheny said the replacement for the opener of a four-game series with the Padres will be a minor league call-up. Garcia was injured rounding third base scoring a run in the eighth inning of his last start on June 24 in Miami. The team had previously referred to the injury as a groin cramp.

Garcia is 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts coming off thoracic outlet surgery to correct a nerve issue in his shoulder that cost him most of the previous two seasons.