Cards’ Garcia likely to start Thursday

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia is likely to make his next start Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, getting two extra days to recover from a sore groin cramp.

St. Louis, which leads the majors with a 50-24 record, has a day off today, and manager Mike Matheny said he’ll use Lance Lynn and John Lackey on regular rest ahead of Garcia.

Garcia is 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts. He allowed a run in seven innings his last outing Wednesday in Miami, but he was injured scoring a run in the eighth.

Outfielder Matt Holliday, on the 15-day disabled list with a right quad strain since June 9, took batting practice for the second straight day Sunday and said he could begin running early this week.

DEVELOPMENTS

Stanton undergoes surgery: Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton underwent surgery Sunday on his broken left hand, and the timetable for his return remains four to six weeks.

Stanton hurt his hand while swinging during Friday’s game against the Dodgers. He was leading the majors with 27 homers and 67 RBIs.

“From everything we’ve got, the surgery was a success,” manager Dan Jennings said, “and now you just go through the healing process and the rehab process to have him back.”

Verlander to start Tuesday: Justin Verlander is back in the Detroit Tigers’ starting rotation.

Manager Brad Ausmus said the team is expecting the right-hander to start Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Verlander threw a bullpen session before Saturday’s postponement and checked out fine. He then threw off flat ground in left field Sunday.

Ausmus said Verlander’s mid-back stiffness, which forced him from his third start of the regular season June 24 against the Indians, won’t limit his pitch count.

“I think as long as he feels fine, we’re going to let him go,” Ausmus said. “The back wasn’t caused by 115 pitches — he felt it before 115 pitches, he felt it in the fourth inning — so we’re certainly not going to scale him back to 80 pitches.

“How he feels and the game will dictate how deep he goes.”

Briefly: Chicago Cubs left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Tuesday, to make room for reliever Neil Ramirez. Wada missed Saturday’s start because of inflammation in his left deltoid. ... The Tampa Bay Rays have purchased the contract of three-time All-Star Grady Sizemore from Class A Charlotte. The 32-year old outfielder has a .265 batting average in 10 major league seasons.