photo: Mike Mayers (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports Images)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced this (Sunday) morning that All-Star catcher Yadier Molina (pelvic injury with traumatic hematoma) and right-handed pitcher Dominic Leone (right upper arm nerve irritation) have been placed on the 10-day disabled list. Molina has undergone surgery for his injury and the team projects that he will miss at least four weeks.
The Cardinals have recalled catcher Carson Kelly and right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers from Memphis (AAA) for tonight’s game.
Molina, who recently this season passed Hall of Famer Johnny Bench on Major League Baseball’s all-time games caught (1,745) and innings caught (14,627.0) lists, was batting .272 with 6 HR’s and 17 RBI. He was injured after taking a foul ball during the 9th inning of yesterday’s game.
Leone exited Friday night’s game after experiencing arm discomfort during his warm-ups in the 8th inning. Leone has appeared in 16 games for the Cardinals, striking out 15 in 13.0 innings work.
Kelly, 23, was batting .234 (18-for-77) with 2 HR and 11 RBI in 21 games for Memphis. He’s appeared in 44 games in the majors over the past two seasons (2016-17).
Mayers, 26, has appeared in four games for the Cardinals already this season, allowing just one run in 6.2 innings pitched, including a 3.0 inning save on April 12 at Cincinnati. He’s also pitched in four games for Memphis this year, logging 6.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. He worked 1.2 innings in relief on Friday (May 4) at Nashville in his most recent appearance.
Kelly wears uniform no. 19 and Mayers is no. 59.
The Cardinals close out their weekend series with the Chicago Cubs tonight at 7:05 p.m. CDT in a nationally televised game on ESPN.
Brian Walton’s take
In what has been a rough Cubs series physically for the Cardinals, two other Cardinals slowed in Saturday night’s game remain active – outfielder Tommy Pham (groin tightness) and closer Bud Norris (triceps soreness).
The Cardinals continue to operate with an nine-man bullpen, leaving them with just four position players on the bench, including the back-up catcher.
They have just four starting pitchers, but that should change on Monday as Memphis’ John Gant has been announced as St. Louis’ starter in the Minnesota Twins series opener.
In a separate article, I wrote about why I consider this to be a crucial juncture in Kelly’s career.
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