Adam Wainwright could miss 2011 season for St. Louis Cardinals

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Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright could be out for the season.

A 20-game winner and Cy Young award runner-up for St. Louis last season, Wainwright is being sent from spring training in Jupiter, Fla., back to St. Louis for tests on his right elbow, which he injured during Monday’s bullpen session.

Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said “things do not look encouraging” for the right-handed pitcher but stopped short of saying Wainwright would need Tommy John surgery.

“I don’t want to speculate, but obviously ligament damage, that’s usually what it results in,” he said.

Manager Tony La Russa added: “It appears to not be good. We’ll see, though.”

The Cardinals learned Tuesday they would be without utility infielder Nick Punto for eight to 12 weeks due to surgery for a sports hernia.

The 29-year-old Wainwright, who was 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA last season, finished behind Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay for the Cy Young award and also made the All-Star team for the first time.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[The headline on an earlier version of this post incorrectly stated Wainwright could miss the 2010 season.]