ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals closer Jason Motte threw for the second straight day as a deadline neared for determining whether he could pitch with a partially torn ligament in his elbow. The team said in early April that if Motte’s conditioned hadn’t improved by the beginning of May he likely would undergo reconstructive surgery. Motte said he felt fine after throwing from 60 feet on Sunday, increasing the distance about 15 feet from the first day while still not “heave-hoeing it.” He planned on playing catch today (Monday), unless there was a setback.

The 30-year-old Motte didn’t think pitching with a torn ligament was potentially that outlandish, given that doctors don’t know what a normal elbow looks like.