JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals starter Matt Clement, more than a year removed from shoulder surgery, will alter his throwing program in the coming days and is not expected to be ready for opening day, as previously planned.

“In all honesty, I will be surprised if he’s ready for opening day,” pitching coach Dave Duncan said. “And I’m not too sure even if he is ready, we wouldn’t likely have him compete somewhere else just to get him in the swing of things.”

Clement threw his third bullpen session of the spring, and it was after watching it that Duncan discussed how the righthander is behind the best-case schedule.

While the health of his shoulder checks out and he’s had no physical setbacks in his recovery, Duncan said Clement hasn’t shown the arm strength needed to advance. Duncan does not have a start scheduled yet for Clement in Grapefruit League play, but added that it’s probable that it would be in the middle of March.

That will depend on how Clement takes to a shift in his schedule. 

Instead of throwing a bullpen every two days, Clement will switch to a long-toss program between bullpen sessions to strengthen his right arm. The long toss is meant to increase his arm strength.

From there, Duncan said Clement will have to regain his competitive form.

Clement did not pitch in the majors last season as he recovered from significant shoulder surgery. The Cardinals signed him to a one-year deal with an option for 2009, and the club had cautiously hoped that he would be part of the opening day roster as part of the rotation.

General manager John Mozeliak said while watching Clement throw his bullpen Sunday morning that the rule of thumb with the righthander is “patience.”

Much more on the righthander in Monday’s Post-Dispatch.

-30-