Cardinals Make Weaver Addition Official

(photo: Luke Weaver/Memphis Redbirds)

With Luke Weaver added to the St. Louis Cardinals roster to start Thursday night, reliever Mike Mayers was returned to Triple-A Memphis.

St. Louis Cardinals press release

Luke Weaver/USA TODAY Sports Images

The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to this evening’s (Thursday) game that they have recalled right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver from Memphis (AAA) and that the team had optioned right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers to the triple-A club following last night’s game.

Weaver, 23, is slated to start tonight’s game against Arizona.   The 6-2, 170-pound Weaver appeared in two games for the Cardinals earlier this month, working 3.0 scoreless innings in relief during his call-up from July 3-9.

At Memphis, Weaver has posted a 9-1 mark with a 1.91 ERA in 19 starts (66.0 IP), holding the opposition to a .203 batting mark and striking out 69.   His 9 wins rank T2nd in the Pacific Coast League and he was named to the PCL All-Star team.  The former 1st round draft selection (27th player overall) in 2014 out of Florida State University made his most recent start on July 20 at Oklahoma City, when he allowed just one run on four hits in 5.0 innings of work.

The Florida native debuted with the Cardinals on August 13 last year, and made eight starts for St. Louis, the most recent coming on Sept. 21, 2016 at Colorado.

Weaver, who wears uniform no. 62, will become just the seventh starting pitcher used by the Cardinals this season.  Only the Pittsburgh Pirates have used fewer (six) starting pitchers this year.

Brian Walton’s take

Mike Mayers/USA TODAY Sports Images

As it turned out, Mayers was not needed in relief during his one-game stop in St. Louis on Wednesday night. He cannot be recalled in the next 10 days unless he replaces a player who goes into the disabled list. Mayers should return to his new relief role with Memphis in the interim.

All eyes will be on Weaver on Thursday night as he could potentially step into the Cardinals rotation – either if Lance Lynn is traded or if Adam Wainwright’s stay on the disabled list is longer than 10 days. His most likely potential rival, lefty Marco Gonzales, was dealt to Seattle last weekend.

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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnationblog.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

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