PHILADELPHIA — Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a shoulder strain, one day after he left his comeback start after facing only three batters.

Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, complained of shoulder discomfort in his start against Philadelphia and threw only 16 pitches. The start was Mulder's first since September and the former 20-game winner hasn't won a game in nearly 25 months.

Mulder struck out Jimmy Rollins, then walked the next two batters. Mulder said Wednesday he felt something wrong on his last pitch to Rollins.

"I just couldn't get my arm up," Mulder said. "I couldn't get it to work. I wouldn't throw right."

The Cardinals purchased the contract of left-hander Jamie Garcia from Triple-A Memphis. Garcia was a starter in the minor leagues, but St. Louis said he will be available in the bullpen.

Mulder had allowed two runs and four hits in 1 1-3 innings over two relief appearances this year. He made three starts last September and was 0-3 with a 12.27 ERA before undergoing a second operation.

"It's like a tease because you think everything is OK," Mulder said.