ST. LOUIS — Injured St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal will receive a platelet rich plasma injection in his right elbow Tuesday.
Furcal and the Cardinals hope the shot will accelerate the healing of the partially torn ligament in Furcal's elbow.
"We'll see what happens," Furcal said. "After the shot, I've got to go 15 days without doing anything. They don't even want me to move my arm a lot."
The chances of Furcal returning this season are slim, but Furcal is hoping he can overcome the odds.
"I'm going to do the best I can do," he said. "I've got to wait and (hear) what the doctors say about my fielding. I don't want to lose this year and lose next year, too. One or the other."
A PRP shot begins with the patient having blood drawn from a vein in his arm. The blood is placed in a machine that spins at a high rate of speed to separate different types of blood cells. The platelet-rich portion of the blood is extracted and injected into the injured area.
Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said the injection is worth trying.
"It's a nonsurgical procedure and we'll just see where he's at," Mozeliak said. "But I think the likelihood of him playing again this season is very rare."
Furcal said he still is dealing with a lot of pain. He suffered the injury Thursday in Washington as he made a throw.
"This is bad, especially when I sleep," he said.
Furcal doesn't anticipate undergoing surgery. He said teammate Skip Schumaker and former teammate Nick Punto avoided surgeries with a similar injury.
"These things take a little while to heal, but it's nothing crazy like you need a surgery," Furcal said. "I don't want any more surgeries on my body, especially my arm."
Call-ups coming
Right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller will head the list of roster additions Tuesday.
Miller, who will wear No. 40, will work long relief, but the Cardinals haven't ruled out him from making a start.
Other players joining the major-league roster Tuesday will be outfielder Adron Chambers and shortstop Ryan Jackson.
Victor Marte joined the team Monday and will be available in the bullpen. Marte is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 43 games this season.
Mozeliak said Class AA Springfield sensation Oscar Taveras is not scheduled to be promoted. Taveras batted .321 with 37 doubles, seven triples, 23 home runs and 94 RBIs in 124 games.
"His day will come," Mozeliak said. "It will certainly be sooner than later, whether it's this year or next. He's phenomenal. Probably even broken, he's good. He's an amazing player."
Mozeliak said the Cardinals could revisit the possibility of Taveras being summoned to the big leagues if right fielder Carlos Beltran's gimpy left knee does not improve.
Beltran hasn't started the last two games.
"It feels better," Beltran said. "Hitting-wise, today, it wasn't an issue. But for me, this is not about hitting. It's about going into the outfield and being able to play a good, defensive position. Let's see how it feels tomorrow."
Contact reporter David Wilhelm at dwilhelm@bnd.com or 239-2665. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidMWilhelm.
