Carpenter convinces Cardinals his hand is fine by opening salsa jar

Matt Carpenter took his salsa obsession to a new level Wednesday night, using a jar of it to prove to the St. Louis Cardinals his hand wasn't injured.

After the MVP candidate exited in the seventh inning upon being struck in the right hand by a pitch from Washington Nationals reliever Matt Grace, Carpenter showed the Cardinals he was fine with a test of strength.

"I was pleading my case to be ready to go tomorrow and I told (head athletic trainer) Adam Olsen that if I can go in there and open a jar of salsa, I should be fine," Carpenter explained, according to MLB.com's Sean Collins.

"This one was sealed, and I was able to do it. So I'm able to go."

The 32-year-old underwent X-rays on the area, which came back negative, and he's expected to be in the lineup Thursday.

Carpenter's special homemade salsa has been highly publicized, and it has even made its rounds through the Cardinals' clubhouse.