ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds underwent an MRI exam and consulted with Dr. George Paletta on Tuesday, but Edmonds is even more perplexed by the pain in his lower abdomen than he was before.

Edmonds will visit a doctor who specializes in sports hernias on Wednesday, in hopes of clearing up the condition that has bothered him for several days. Edmonds has not started since Friday in San Diego.

"They haven't really narrowed it down," Edmonds said after Tuesday night's game. "They're just kind of hoping that it isn't bad. But I'm going to see a guy who specializes in I guess what you call a sports hernia, so tomorrow I'll figure out more."

The club initially called Edmonds' condition a "lower abdominal infection." By the end of the weekend, head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg believed it was an inflammation or infection of lymph nodes in Edmonds' lower abdomen. The issue still has not been clearly identified, but it's obvious that the possibility of a hernia is being taken seriously.

A sports hernia is a condition that can sometimes be treated non-surgically, but in some cases, an operation is required. It is a more common injury in hockey than in baseball.

"I don't really know what to think right now," said Edmonds. "The only thing I'm worried about is if it's bad. I just have to see tomorrow. I just have to try not to think about it too much and just wait and find out."

Edmonds pinch-hit on Sunday, but that was his only game appearance since Friday. The club does not want him to have to run.

"We just want to gather all the information," said Weinberg. "[He will visit] a guy that has seen a lot of lower abdominal injuries, then they can make a decision and an opinion."

So Taguchi started in Edmonds' place in center field for the third straight game, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Carpenter throws side session: For the first time since his last start on May 19, Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter threw off a mound Tuesday afternoon.

Carpenter tossed a bullpen session and did some stretching and running exercises. The righty was sidelined because of an inflamed bursa sac in his pitching arm.

"I felt good," Carpenter said. "We will see how I feel tomorrow. ... I was just hoping I didn't feel anything, and I didn't feel anything. I threw [a few more pitches] and with a little more effort."

Manager Tony La Russa was very pleased to hear the results.

"That's great news," La Russa said.

Carpenter said he would have started if it had been a late-season or playoff game.

The pain first appeared during his last start, a six-inning performance against the Royals. He allowed six runs, the same number he allowed combined in his previous four appearances.

"I definitely felt I was altering my arm angle," he said "It got to the point where it wasn't something where I felt it was going to go away or [I'd] be able to work through.

"Basically, it was just something I had to let it settle. It wasn't a strength issue and I don't want to say it was physical. It wasn't a physical situation where I pulled something or hurt something."

Carpenter was originally schedul to start Tuesday's game against the Astros. Instead, rookie right-hander Anthony Reyes got the call. Facing the Royals on May 20, Reyes threw 5 2/3 shutout innings in place of Sidney Ponson.

Weinberg said Carpenter has another bullpen session scheduled for Friday. If that goes well, La Russa said his ace could throw sometime next week, likely Monday or Tuesday.

"We just want to get him back and keep him back," he said.

Carpenter, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, is 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 10 starts.

Bigbie doesn't start: Despite incredible numbers against Astros starter Andy Pettitte, outfielder Larry Bigbie didn't see his name in Tuesday night's starting lineup.

The left-handed-hitting Bigbie is batting a remarkable .786 (11-for-14) against the veteran left-hander.

"At that time, I was playing every day," Bigbie said of his days with the Orioles when he faced Pettitte, the former Yankee. "For whatever reasons, I have gotten my hits off him. ... I just knew he was going to be around the plate and I knew that with Andy, he liked to throw his breaking ball for strikes."

La Russa said he hadn't seen numbers like that.

"Not in a matchup with double-digit at-bats," La Russa said.

La Russa said Bigbie has fully recovered from the illness that hit the team during its West Coast swing last week.

"He's probably well enough to play, but everyone we are playing is hitting left-handed pitching," La Russa said.

Bigbie's two likely spots are the corner outfield positions, but Juan Encarnacion (.302 against lefties) started in right and Hector Luna, batting .423 against left-handers, earned a rare start in left.

Spiezio sick: Scott Spiezio didn't arrive at the ballpark Tuesday because of illness.

Weinberg classified Spiezio's condition as pharyngitis, an upper respiratory infection. His status was unclear for Wednesday afternoon's game.

Spiezio didn't play on Monday. Overall, the veteran utilityman is batting an even .300 in 90 at-bats.

Odds and ends: Another incredible Albert Pujols statistic: The Cardinals slugger is currently batting .535/.656/1.070 (average/on-base percentage/slugging) with runners in scoring position, according to STATS, Inc. If he keeps up the pace, Pujols would set the Major League records for all three numbers. George Brett set the high marks with a .469/.542/.815 line back in 1980. ... David Eckstein tied Edmonds on Monday night for the longest Cardinals' hitting streak this season at 11 games. The leadoff man, batting .335 overall, is hitting .413 (19-for-46) during the streak.

Coming up: The Astros and Cardinals complete their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:10 p.m. CT. Jeff Suppan (5-4, 5.12 ERA) tries to recover from his last start, a subpar outing against the Padres last week. The veteran opposes right-hander Taylor Buchholz (3-4, 5.57 ERA).