Cardinals Remove Jaime Garcia from Playoff Roster Following Rotator Cuff Injury

Starter Jaime Garcia will undergo an MRI after experiencing "arm discomfort" in the St. Louis Cardinals' 12-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.

Langosch tweeted the following on Monday:

"

Jaime Garcia has been sent off to get an MRI. Was having arm discomfort tonight, which was reason he was out early.

— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) October 9, 2012"

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 1:15 p.m. ET by Jessica Isner

We have more information on how the Cards plan to deal with the Jaime Garcia situation—and it involves Shelby Miller. 

The Toronto Star's Brian Kennedy tweeted the news on Tuesday:

"

Jaime Garcia taken off Cards roster and replaced by Shelby Miller. Garcia has rotator cuff injury. #NLDS

— Brendan Kennedy (@BKennedyStar) October 9, 2012"

Miller has made one start in 2012 but has appeared in six games, going 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in 13.2 innings with 16 K's. 

---END OF UPDATE---

UPDATE: Monday, Oct. 8 at 10:15 p.m. ET

Garcia has been taken off the Cardinals' postseason roster, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Strauss tweeted on Monday:

"

Garcia to be removed from postseason roster, replaced before Wednesday's Game 3. Several teammates furious over situation.

— Joe Strauss (@JoeStrauss) October 9, 2012"

Garcia said after the game, per Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch:

"

It just didn't feel right. It was hurting. It wasn't feeling the way it had been the last couple weeks. It actually happened a couple days ago. Usually you get a little stiff or sore between starts. That's part of pitching. As you get closer to game time the stiffness and the soreness goes away...

This is one of those things where it didn't get better.

"

--- END OF UPDATE ---

Garcia lasted just two innings—allowing one run on two hits and three walks—before getting taken out of the NLDS matchup on Monday.

The 26-year-old left-hander went 7-7 this season with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP, but he had tossed four straight quality starts heading into the postseason. He had allowed six runs in 5.1 innings against the Nationals this season before Monday's game.

Despite Garcia's limited outing on Monday, the Cardinals were still able to tie the series at one game apiece, notching 13 hits, including four home runs (two by Carlos Beltran). St. Louis scored the second-most runs in the National League this season (765).

On the other hand, losing Garcia would be a big blow for a rotation that struggled in the second half of the season behind ace Adam Wainwright and Kyle Lohse.

Despite the Nationals shutting down their own ace, Stephen Strasburg, before the playoffs, the Cardinals were largely considered underdogs coming into the series, despite being the reigning champions.

So far, they've shown some fight.

But it's going to be interesting to see whether St. Louis can keep it up if Garcia is forced to miss time. He's an important part of the rotation, evidenced by manager Mike Matheny's starting him in an important Game 2 at home.