photo: Ryan Sherriff (Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to today’s (Sunday’s) game that they have placed left-handed pitcher Ryan Sherriff on the 10-day disabled list (right great toe fracture), retroactive to April 6, and recalled right-handed pitcher John Brebbia form Memphis (AAA).
As a rookie last season, Brebbia appeared in 50 games, posting a 2.44 ERA in 51.2 innings pitched with 51 strikeouts. His 2.44 ERA led all qualifying Major League rookie relief pitchers.
Sherriff had appeared in three games since his recall on March 31, allowing one run in 2.2 innings pitched.
Brebbia wears uniform No. 60.
Brian Walton’s take
It took several days for the club to determine via X-ray the existence of a hairline fracture in Sherriff’s big toe after it was struck by a Ketel Marte line drive in St. Louis’ home opener on Thursday. However with the ability to backdate the DL move, there is no limitation going forward.
Sherriff did not open the season with the Cardinals, as he was promoted from Memphis on March 31. It was the corresponding transaction to St. Louis left-hander Brett Cecil going on the 10-day DL himself with a shoulder strain. (Later reports indicate Cecil now has an ankle injury, as well.)
The decision who to replace Sherriff with was an easy one for the Cardinals to make.
Brebbia is the only 40-man relief pitcher with MLB experience who is not either already with St. Louis or injured. He has reportedly joined the club in St. Louis and is available to pitch on Sunday.
Brebbia looked to have made the Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, but in a surprise move, lost his 25-man spot to rookie sensation Jordan Hicks in a decision announced two days before the opener.
In Memphis’ three games to-date, all blowout wins, Brebbia did not pitch. The Redbirds’ roster replacement for Brebbia has not yet been announced. It could be that no one will be added immediately.
The reason is that the next step for St. Louis will be to select a reliever to be sent down to Memphis on Monday when new closer Greg Holland is activated. It could be Brebbia or fellow reliever Mike Mayers. The latter, a spring camp sensation, has appeared in just one of St. Louis’ first eight games as the long man out of the bullpen. A move to Memphis could allow the right-hander to pitch more regularly and re-sharpen his skills.
Another move off the 25-man active roster should be required this coming week when reliever Luke Gregerson is activated by St. Louis. The veteran pitched his first rehab inning with high-A Palm Beach on Saturday evening.
St. Louis currently has four other players on the disabled list: Alex Reyes (60-day), Gregerson, Cecil and Jedd Gyorko. Adam Wainwright, who opened the season on the shelf, was activated on Thursday.
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