Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter will skip his next start, scheduled for Friday in Houston, due to "right elbow inflammation." Carpenter has not been placed on the disabled list. Carpenter and manager Tony La Russa both said that the injury is not believed to be particularly severe at this point. "Obviously, anytime something's going on, it's one, frustration, and two, disappointment," Carpenter said. "Three, I don't know if it's alarming or not. I want to make sure it's OK. With that said, everybody I've talked to -- doctors, trainers -- are not alarmed. They don't think it's anything serious."