JUPITER, Fla. • Righthander Jake Woodford, who had a 2.57 earned run average before sent to Class AAA Memphis, will be brought back to face the New York Yankees Thursday here as the Cardinals engage in a split-squad doubleheader. Another group, consisting mostly of reserves and bullpeners, will go to West Palm Beach Thursday night to contest the Washington Nationals.
The 22-year-old Woodford, who was on the Class AAA champion Memphis club for the second half of last season, will have most of the Cardinals’ “A” lineup behind him. The only absentee will be third baseman Matt Carpenter, still tending to back tightness but a possibility to play Friday at Port St.