JUPITER, Fla. • Chris Carpenter will throw his first live batting practice session of spring on Tuesday, joining teammate Adam Wainwright in the drill that is the gateway to the first start of spring. Carpenter will be the last of the major-league pitchers to face hitters.

He also will likely be the last of the major-league starter to appear in a Grapefruit League game.

Carpenter said when last they talked about his schedule, he, manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Derek Lilliquist settled on having him skip his first scheduled start of spring training. That would leave him with four starts in exhibition play. Last spring, Carpenter had three. Lilliquist declined to say how many starts Carpenter would be scheduled for because things change, but described it as "a compromise that has been reached."

When they both face hitters at the same time on Tuesday, Wainwright will already be one live BP ahead of his teammate.

Wainwright will be ahead of schedule, though that allows for some flex in his schedule. Between live BP and his first scheduled start, Wainwright will have time to get in another live BP session or a lengthy bullpen if he wants.

"There is wiggle room for everybody," Lilliquist said.

Prospect Jordan Swagerty has been held back from advancing in the program because of soreness and stiffness in his right elbow. The young righty threw a bullpen session last week, and he went for an MRI on the joint shortly after. Swagerty said the MRI didn't reveal any structural problem. He agreed that the scan was "reassuring." Swagerty has bone spurs in his right elbow, and apparently they are causing irritation and inflammation in the triceps, or that general region.

Swagerty said he did not know when he would next take the mound as the club has instructed him to take some time off and get the joint's irritation to calm down.

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