photo: Dexter Fowler/USA TODAY Sports Images
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Thursday) they have reinstated outfielder Dexter Fowler from Paternity Leave, have placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and activated right-handed pitcher Matt Bowman from the 10-day disabled list (right hand middle finger blisters) and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis.
O’Neill, 23, played in three games after his recall from Memphis on Monday. He was 1-for-6 with a single and two runs scored in three games making one start on Monday’s game in right field and batting third. O’Neill made two pinch-hit appearances in the next two games.
Fowler, 32, and his wife Aliya welcomed their second child, Ivy Noor Fowler, on July 3. The Cardinals veteran outfielder missed the three-game series in Arizona.
Bowman, 27, made three appearances on a rehabilitation assignment in Memphis.
Brian Walton’s take
I do not think O’Neill is necessarily injury-prone, though he also had a hamstring problem this spring. I do believe he is unlucky. He plays at a high level for weeks with Memphis, but can’t get past six at-bats with St. Louis.
The only mild surprise is that Bowman was optioned out, as he has not been assigned to Triple-A for the last 2 ½ years – since joining the Cardinals prior to the 2016 season. Of course, his 2018 ERA of 5.75 is more than two runs worse than his first two years total (3.70). That obvious decline should matter.
When all is considered, it seems the organization is happy with the make-up of its current bullpen.
I do wonder where that will leave Luke Gregerson, still rehabbing with the Redbirds, whose roster is now at 25 active players with Bowman’s arrival.
Fowler, who has been in a season-long slump, had his effort questioned by Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak in a Monday podcast posted a ScoopswithDannyMac.com. On Thursday evening, rookie Harrison Bader is starting in Fowler’s customary right field spot, a move that had been occurring more and more often even before the paternity leave.
Bonus Cardinals minor league transactions
Latcham holds the key
Turnabout is fair play. Two weeks ago, Peoria All-Star reliever Thomas St. Clair was promoted to Palm Beach. On Thursday, Beach Birds closer Will Latcham was advanced to Double-A Springfield.
In his last 14 appearances, the righty threw 19 innings, allowed just three runs and struck out 26 batters. That lowered Latcham’s ERA from 5.74 on May 15 to its current 3.38. In total, the 22-year old has fanned 48 and walked 16 with 25 hits (.195 BAA) in 34 2/3 innings.
The Double-A Cardinals, out to a rough 2-11 start in the second half, clearly need relief help. Just this past week, Springfield lost two games in extra innings.
Letting their Gard down
Right-handed reliever Jason Zgardowski was sent down from Springfield to Palm Beach to make room for Latcham.
Called up to Double-A for the first time on June 13, Zgardowski was scored upon in four of six outings, for a tidy, but too high 6.00 ERA over nine innings. The 24-year old struck out just four, but walked six to go with 10 hits yielded. Two of the latter left the park.
Texas League hitters batted .323 against him, which really is not that much worse than the .311 mark he posted with Palm Beach, where his ERA was 4.03.
Zgardowski joined the organization last August when his contract was acquired from River City of the independent Frontier League.
For more
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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