The epidural shot on Friday did not help, so the next step for Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is back surgery, which will take place today in St. Louis, to remove part of a ruptured disc in his back. Matheny believes he’ll only miss two games and be back in the dugout for Thursday’s game. Matheny flew to St. Louis after the game yesterday and will have the surgery this morning. Matheny was experiencing pain and numbness. Matheny says doctors are confident the surgery will remove those symptoms once they remove a fragment of that disc away from a nerve.
Matheny spoke about the surgery on Sunday. Watch the video from STLCardinals.com
Matheny plans to return to Florida on Wednesday so that he can be in the dugout for Thursday’s home game. Bench coach Mike Aldrete will serve as manager during Matheny’s two-game absence.