St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is expected to return from the disabled list and start Friday against the Atlanta Braves.

Wainwright has been on the DL since June 8 with a sprained right middle finger. In 13 starts this season, Wainwright had posted a record of 6-3 with a 3.14 earned run average over 91 2/3 innings.

The right-hander threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in which he deemed himself ready to return to MLB action. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced Wednesday that Wainwright would start Friday, but that the pitcher's place in the rotation is not necessarily permanent.