photo: Alex Reyes (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced numerous roster moves this (Thursday) afternoon prior to their series opener against Pittsburgh, recalling three players from Memphis (AAA), while rookie pitcher Alex Reyes, who made his 2018 debut with 4.0 scoreless innings in a start yesterday, was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain.
Recalled today from Memphis were left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber, right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers and first baseman Luke Voit. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was optioned to Memphis following yesterday’s game and right-handed pitcher John Gant was optioned to the triple-A Redbirds today.
Gomber, who was named last week as the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week, was recalled to the majors last month, but did not appear in a game for St. Louis. The rookie left-hander is 4-3 with a 3.60 ERA in nine starts for Memphis.
Mayers, who’s appeared in 10 games (1-0, 2.63 ERA) for St. Louis this season, was optioned yesterday to make room for Reyes, but has immediately been returned to the roster as an injury replacement. The right-handed hitting Voit had a short stint on the St. Louis roster in early May, but never saw action. He’s batting .237 with one homer and 12 RBI in 34 games for Memphis this season.
Gomber wears uniform number 68, Mayers no. 59 and Voit no. 40.
Brian Walton’s take
It is obviously a very discouraging situation for the Cardinals, as Reyes pitched just four innings in his first official major league action since the end of the 2016 season.
His injury is considered “significant” and the 23-year old will likely more than a few starts. A second opinion is being secured. There are three grades of lat strains, with increasing severity.
In the clip below, general manager Michael Girsch explains how the situation evolved on Wednesday and Thursday.
Girsch explains the process of learning just how hurt Alex Reyes was after Wednesday's game #STLCards https://t.co/6b9JTXE6kk pic.twitter.com/NUuUK5Gur9
— KMOX Sports (@KMOXSports) May 31, 2018
Since Gant essentially piggybacked Reyes on Wednesday, his getting sent down on Thursday is not a surprise. As noted above, Mayers could return so quickly because he is replacing an injured player (Reyes).
With St. Louis now apparently needing a Tuesday starter in the spot vacated by Reyes, could it be Gomber? Carlos Martinez is pitching in a rehab start in Springfield Thursday evening, so his first possible day to be ready to rejoin St. Louis’ rotation in the best case would seem to be next Tuesday.
I have no idea why Voit is back with St. Louis. The Cardinals clearly do not need a first base-only player, especially one who has been scuffling this season.
My choice would have been Oscar Mercado, who is a top 15 prospect in the system and like Voit, has a spot in the 40-man roster. Mercado is four years younger than Voit and is a plus defender in center field. In every offensive measure, his 2018 numbers are higher than Voit’s, including home runs, slugging percentage and RBI. Mercado also has 12 stolen bases and could be a useful late-game pinch runner and defensive replacement at worst.
May will be a month to forget for St. Louis. The Cardinals made a total of 42 transactions this month, impacting 23 different players and have placed 11 different players on the disabled list in May, according to Cardinals media relations.
At Memphis, Rangel Ravelo should take over at first, with O’Neill joining the outfield rotation that includes Mercado, Randy Arozarena and Adolis Garcia. Gant should slip back into the rotation, with Gomber having departed.
Overall, the Redbirds are again down one player, with 24 on the active roster.
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