"Any notion of squeezing two more starts for Adam Wainwright into the final week of the season vanished when the righthander described increasing stiffness in his right elbow. Now, his one remaining start is uncertain.

After Monday's game, Wainwright said a team doctor examined the arm and that he was told there would be no need for an MRI today. The pitcher had been told a decision about his next start would be reached today.

Wainwright became the National League's second 20-game winner with six innings Friday at Wrigley Field, and he said the elbow tightened throughout the game. He said he first injured the elbow by jerking it awkwardly as he was sleeping the night before his 19th victory.

"It's one of those things where no one will ever believe me, but it's the truth," Wainwright said. "It's not a big deal. You're always starting until you're told you're not."

Wainwright (20-11) is scheduled to start Thursday, after an extra day of rest manager Tony La Russa said was prompted by the elbow soreness. With Wainwright dueling Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay for the Cy Young Award, the club had briefly considered giving Wainwright two starts (presumably Wednesday and Sunday) on the final home stand. Instead, P.J. Walters will start Wednesday, and the Cardinals have the other starters positioned so they can skip Wainwright entirely, if needed.

Two starts "is not going to work," La Russa said. "That would be a push that we're not willing to do. Physically, it would not be a good thing to do. ... If his elbow is stiff and has soreness there is no way we're going to push it."

Wainwright has pitched more than 230 innings for the second consecutive season, and he dismissed the idea that the elbow soreness was related to workload. He was sleeping, resting his head on his right elbow, when he yanked it free to move and felt the elbow balk. Wainwright was pulled from his 20th win after throwing only 84 pitches in six innings.

The righthander has a two-year, $21 million option for 2012 and 2013, and one of the triggers for the option is a top-five finish in this year's Cy Young voting. To secure the option, he must also not be on the disabled list to end 2011.

"If we're still battling it out (for a postseason berth), this is a non-issue," Wainwright said. "No part of me is going to do anything that the doctor tells me is not smart to try and achieve some personal goal. I've already had a very good season. As far as awards go, that's up to the voters.""