ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter expects to begin a rehab program next week following surgery to relieve nerve compression that left his arm and much of the right side of his body numb.

The 37-year-old Carpenter gave no guarantee Tuesday that he'd be back without a doubt next season. But Carpenter said the surgeon, Dr. Greg Pearl of Dallas, told him there were no complications.

Carpenter's top rib was removed along with two of the connecting muscles. He was injured in spring training and last pitched as the Game 7 World Series winner last fall.