photo: Austin Gomber (Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports)
To keep a fresh long man in the bullpen, the St. Louis Cardinals promoted left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber from Memphis, returning Saturday spot starter Jack Flaherty to the Triple-A Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to today’s (Sunday) game that they have recalled rookie left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber from Memphis (AAA). The team also announced that right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty was optioned to the triple-A Redbirds following last night’s game.
Gomber, 24, the Cardinals Minor League co-Pitcher of the Year in 2015, is coming off a record-setting 16 strikeout performance on April 23 at Iowa and is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his four starts (25.2 IP) for Memphis, striking out 27 and limiting the opposition to a .228 BA.
The 6-5, 230-pound former 4th round draft selection (135th player overall) by the Cardinals in 2014 out of Florida Atlantic University, is a career 36-20 with a 2.83 ERA in 84 professional starts.
Gomber has been assigned uniform no. 68. He will join pitcher Jordan Hicks, infielder Yairo Muñoz and outfielder Tyler O’Neill among rookies to have made their Major League debuts for the Cardinals this season.
Brian Walton’s take
Here we have the fourth pitching transaction by St. Louis in the last four days. Preceding Gomber were John Gant (added Thursday), Mike Mayers (Friday) and Flaherty (Saturday). Of the trio, only Mayers remains with the Cardinals.
The motive is to have a fresh long man available. In recent days, the Cards have had both extra innings games and bullpen troubles that led to using a number of different relievers.
Gomber will be making his MLB debut and joins Tyler Lyons as the second left-hander in the bullpen. Gomber had been Memphis’ scheduled Sunday starter, so is fully rested. Other St. Louis lefties – Brett Cecil and Ryan Sherriff – remain on the 10-day disabled list.
The Cardinal Nation’s Derek Shore offers his assessment of Gomber.
There has always been a lot to like about Austin Gomber. He has funky, deceptive delivery, throwing his fastball at 89-93 mph on a downhill plane with a plus curveball and average changeup, per scouts. Not far from being a solid back-end starter.
— Derek Shore (@D_Shore23) April 29, 2018
The move to send Flaherty down suggests less about his Saturday performance (three earned runs in five innings at Pittsburgh) and more about the nearing return of Adam Wainwright, whose rotation turn Flaherty took. Wainwright went on the DL on April 22 with elbow discomfort that was reportedly minor.
At the other end of the pipeline, Memphis manager Stubby Clapp has to be dancing with his rotation after losing three starters on their scheduled days to pitch. The Redbirds had a bullpen game on Saturday and may have to do it again Sunday afternoon to cover for the immediate loss of Gomber.
“Reliever Roulette” update
On Sunday, the ball on the spinning wheel of St. Louis’ ongoing “Reliever Roulette” stopped at number 68. Looking ahead, the supply of fresh arms is not infinite.
It is important to remember that players cannot be recalled from the minor leagues within the 10 day period after having been sent down – unless replacing another player placed on the disabled list.
This means among those on the 40-man roster, these pitchers are currently unavailable for recall: John Brebbia (sent down for Gant), Gant and Flaherty. Neither of the two remaining 40-man roster pitchers who could be promoted have MLB experience. They are Memphis reliever Derian Gonzalez and Springfield starter Conner Greene.
Of course, a non-40-man roster player could be added, but only if another is removed (or someone is moved from the 10-day to the 60-day DL) – because St. Louis’ 40-man roster is full.
One should also keep in mind that reliever Sam Tuivailala has already pitched in two rehab games for Memphis, meaning his return to St. Louis is nearing. That could slow the roulette wheel, but only after another spin.
For roster and player information
To see the full 2018 season-opening rosters by level and position for the entire Cardinals system on one page, along with every transaction all season long, check out the Roster Matrix, recently refreshed and always free at The Cardinal Nation.
Join the discussion with other Cardinals fans
Daily game threads on both St. Louis as well as the minor league slate of contests – plus specialty topics such as this one, called “Reliever Roulette” – can be found at The Cardinal Nation’s free forum.
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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