photo: Miles Mikolas via Zoom (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis Cardinals announcement
RHP Miles Mikolas has been activated from the 10-day IL.
RHP Seth Elledge has been optioned to Memphis (AAA).
Mikolas will start tonight's game vs. the Cubs. pic.twitter.com/5fO8qLnZ0c
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 22, 2021
The 32-year-old Mikolas makes his 2021 season debut tonight (Saturday, May 22) and first MLB appearance since the 2019 National League Championship Series. After signing with St. Louis in 2018, the durable Mikolas was one of only 11 MLB starters to make 64 or more starts over a two-season span (2018- 19), but missed the entire 2020 regular season, and the beginning of 2021, as he continued recovery from right arm flexor tendon surgery.
Brian Walton’s take
The Mikolas move was expected, with the only suspense being which bullpen member would be sent down. Prior to Saturday’s game, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt stated that John Gant, now the no. 6 starter on paper, will start Wednesday’s Game 3 against the White Sox in Chicago.
As the Cardinals head into the second series of their newest 17 games in 17 days stretch, others to pitch against Tony La Russa’s Sox per Shidlt are Kwang-Hyun Kim Monday and Jack Flaherty (potentially against former high school teammate Lucas Giolito) on Tuesday.
In three rehab appearances with Memphis, Mikolas built up his pitch count to 80 and six innings in his final outing. His overall ERA was 3.65 of 12 1/3 innings during which he allowed 14 hits, walked just two and fanned 11 Triple-A batters.
Shildt also disclosed that he expects the Cardinals to continue with the current 14 pitchers-12 position player balance during the consecutive game period.
In his four outings with St. Louis in 2021, Elledge was dinged for four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings (7.71 ERA) on eight hits, three walks, a hit batter and three strikeouts.
For more
To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.
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