Cardinals' Westbrook aims for return in World Series
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jake Westbrook, who has been sidelined since early September due to a strained right oblique, took a step Tuesday toward making the team's potential World Series roster.
Westbrook threw 49 pitches in a two-inning simulated game at Busch Stadium on an off day of the National League Championship Series. The Cardinals and San Francisco Giants are tied at a game apiece before the series resumes in St. Louis on Wednesday.
"I'm ready to go, without a doubt," Westbrook told reporters. "I feel strong in saying that, especially the way today went."
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was encouraged by the outing, but he did not confirm that he would add Westbrook to the team's roster if St. Louis reaches the World Series.
"As far as moving forward, we look at all our options and put it together, depending on what our opposition looks like and try to figure out who gives us the best chance, and all of our players and everyone's considered," Matheny said.
Westbrook went 13-11 with a 3.97 ERA in 28 starts for the Cardinals this season. He made two relief appearances for St. Louis in last year's World Series against the Texas Rangers, pitching two scoreless innings. He didn't appear in the earlier rounds of the 2011 playoffs.
