Walden (biceps) is hoping to resume playing catch in the near future, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Walden isn't expected to return to the Cardinals until late June or early July after suffering a torn muscle in his right shoulder that required a trip to the DL. It sounds like he's been progressing as expected thus far, and he was able to test out the strength of his shoulder Saturday by throwing a weighted ball into a trampoline. A return to playing catch would represent another positive step.

Walden has a muscle strain in his throwing shoulder and will be out 6-to-10 weeks, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports.

This is the kind of injury where timetables should be given little credence, but nonetheless, it seems like Walden could bout until around the All-Star break. Seth Maness and Kevin Siegrist will now do their best to take the ball in the eighth inning depending on matchups and get it to Trevor Rosenthal in the ninth.

Walden (biceps) will seek a second opinion this week to determine the next step in his rehab process, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

The current diagnosis for Walden is right biceps inflammation, but the team wants another doctor to look at Walden's MRI before plotting out a course of action for his rehab. With Walden's status in limbo, the Cardinals will likely lean on the tandem of Seth Maness and Kevin Siegrist to handle setup duties.

Walden was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with right biceps inflammation.

The injury is tough break for Walden, who had emerged as the Cardinals' top setup ace after compiling a 0.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 12:4 K:BB ratio over his first 12 appearances, covering 10.1 innings. Walden's DL placement will be retroactive to April 29, allowing him to be activated as soon as May 15 if he recovers quickly. The Cardinals added Sam Tuivailala from Triple-A Memphis to restore some depth in the bullpen while Walden remains unavailable.

Walden got the save Sunday night against the Reds because Trevor Rosenthal was being rested. Walden allowed one single and had one strikeout in the course of converting the save.

Rosenthal had pitched in five of the previous seven games, so manager Mike Matheny predetermined that Rosenthal would get the night off. Walden has had closing experience before and had been pitching the eighth inning earlier this season, so it's no surprise that he got the nod.

Walden took the loss in Friday's game against the Reds, giving up a run on two walks in an inning pitched.

Walden got in trouble when he walked Billy Hamilton, followed by an intentional walk to Joey Votto. Hamilton took third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Todd Frazier. It was Walden's first action since pitching a scoreless inning on Sunday.

Walden may get the first shot at closing for the Cardinals should Trevor Rosenthal be taken out of the role for some reason, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Matheny has suggested that Walden could be used in the ninth inning, a good indication that with a strong spring Walden will likely be the top setup man for the Cardinals, racking up holds and the occasional save this season. Walden sports a career 3.10 ERA and 10.8 K/9. He could be one of the more valuable non-closing relievers in 2015.

Walden agreed to a two-year deal with the Cardinals on Tuesday

Walden's deal will keep him under contract through the 2016 season with a club option for 2017. He was added to the Cardinals' bullpen as part of a deal that also sent Jason Heyward to the Cardinals and Shelby Miller to the Braves. The 27-year-old reliever could be a candidate for a spot in the back end of the Cardinals' bullpen over the next couple of seasons.

Walden was traded to the Cardinals on Monday.

Walden had his best full season in the majors last year, posting a 2.88 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 62 strikeouts over 50 innings. He could find himself in the back end of the Cardinals bullpen in 2015 as well.

Jordan Walden picked up his third save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's win over the Mets.

It was just a day of rest for Craig Kimbrel, who had pitched in three consecutive ballgames. Walden had no issues, retiring the Mets in 1-2-3 fashion with two strikeouts. The right-hander has been a solid contributor out of the 'pen for the Braves, now carrying a 2.70 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and a 33/12 K/BB ratio in 23 1/3 innings.

Braves activated RHP Jordan Walden from the 15-day disabled list.

Walden wound up missing a little over a month with a strained left hamstring. The right-handed setup man will be available out of the Braves' bullpen Tuesday night.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

Walden, out since early May with a strained left hamstring, threw a scoreless rehab inning Sunday with Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves have yet to announce a corresponding roster move, but Alex Wood could be sent to the minors to be stretched out as a starter.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) threw a scoreless rehab inning Sunday at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Walden struck out two of the four batters he faced. "I felt good out there, hamstring felt good," the right-hander said after his outing. "I didn't have any issues with it again, so that was a positive." He is expected to rejoin the Braves on Tuesday in Colorado.

Jordan Walden's (hamstring) scheduled rehab appearance on Saturday has been pushed to Sunday.

There's no problems, the Braves just wanted to give the right-hander an extra day. With the move, Walden will now likely rejoin the club in Colorado on Tuesday instead of Monday as originally hoped. Either way, he's close to a return.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) will make his second minor league rehab appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday, and if all goes well he'll rejoin the Braves bullpen on Monday in Colorado.

Walden has been sidelined for nearly a month with the hamstring issue, as the Braves have taken things slowly and cautiously in his recovery process. He posted a 2.92 ERA and fanned 19 in his first 12 1/3 innings before going on the shelf.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

He should only need a few appearances before rejoining the Braves' bullpen. Walden posted a 2.92 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 12 1/3 relief innings before landing on the DL a month ago.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday.

It was his third bullpen session since going down a month ago with a strained hamstring. The next step could be a minor league rehab assignment.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) began throwing off a mound this week at the Braves spring training complex.

The team has received good reports thus far, but will still take things slowly with his recovery. He isn't expected to rejoin the Braves bullpen until some point in mid-June.

Jordan Walden (hamstring) isn't expected to be activated from the disabled list until mid-June.

Walden has felt good while long-tossing, but the Braves want to be extra careful given how much stress his delivery puts on his left leg. He won't throw off a mound for another couple weeks. "Especially with his delivery, that left leg is very important because it's the one he lands on," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "So, we've got to make sure that's right because if it's not, that's what could lead to something else."

Jordan Walden (hamstring) could throw a bullpen session as soon as Tuesday.

Walden has been playing catch from distances up to 120 feet and thinks he's ready to take the next step. He should be ready for activation not long after he's throwing from a mound again. "It's feeling a lot better just got to keep working on it, get some more strength in there, hopefully I'll be on the mound soon," Walden said.