PITTSBURGH — Before the first pitch of the bottom of the third inning, the Cardinals' bullpen was scrambling to get ready for emergency use in a game that will soon reveal the direction the Cardinals' season is head.
Dakota Hudson left after pitching two innings Thursday night at PNC Park with discomfort in his pitching elbow. The Cardinals' initial description of the injury was tightness in his right elbow, and the starter was headed for additional exams that will determine the cause of the tightness and severity.
Hudson's sudden absence left the bullpen six innings to cover on the eve of their third doubleheader in five days.