The Cardinals bullpen will be without Kyle McClellan after he underwent shoulder surgery earlier this week, leaving him out for the rest of the 2012 season. McClellan had been rehabbing a sore elbow and the club was expecting his return in August. So what happened?

The elbow and shoulder injuries are related. The issues in his shoulder were causing soreness in his elbow. He experienced some discomfort warming up on June 15. An MRI on McClellan’s shoulder this offseason showed a small tear of the labrum, and while pitchers regularly pitch through minor labrum tears, it affected McClellan’s mechanics that ended up leading to an elbow strain. “I couldn’t get my elbow above my shoulder. Anybody who knows mechanics knows that is a must,” said McClellan.

McClellan is in a sling and begins rehabbing on Monday. He is expected to resume off season workouts and will be ready to go for 2013.