Jason Motte to have Tommy John surgery on Monday

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte will undergo Tommy John surgery on Monday and will miss the rest of the season. Motte has been battling elbow pain since mid-March, when experienced an elbow strain. Since then, he has not fully recovered or pitched as effectively.

On April 30, the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Motte was "throwing from a greater distance and with more intensity than his previous outings." The Cardinals had decided to extend the decision about Motte's elbow to May 1, at which time they were expected to announce whether or not he would need surgery.

After struggling to rehabilitate his elbow, the Cardinals made the decision for Motte to have season-ending surgery. He will miss the 2013 season and could have a late 2014 start. While it's unfortunate for the Cardinals to lose a reliable closer, Edward Mujica has become a strong replacement at closer in recent weeks.