photo: Michael Wacha, Adam Wainwright (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced this (Monday, September 10) afternoon that they have activated right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) from the 60-day disabled list and he will draw the start in tonight’s series opener with Pittsburgh, his first start for St. Louis since May 13. The team also announced that right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) has been moved from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
Wainwright, 37, who was unscored upon in six injury rehabilitation appearances (17.0 IP), owns a career-mark of 147-84 with a 3.30 ERA, including a 1-3 record and 4.00 ERA in four starts this season. Wainwright fanned seven in 5.0 shutout innings for Memphis (AAA) in his final rehab start on Sept. 1 at Nashville, throwing 90 pitches.
In his 14th season, all with the Cardinals, Wainwright enters tonight’s start ranked 5th all-time among Cardinals in wins (147) and 2nd in strikeouts (1,598).
Wainwright missed a total of 105 games while on the disabled list. Wacha has missed 71 games since making his last appearance with St. Louis on June 20.
Brian Walton’s take
Three quick thoughts.
One is that by being able to swap players on the 60-day DL, the Cardinals could avoid the risk of losing a prospect by having to remove him from the 40-man roster.
Another is that Wacha’s season appears to be over. The right-hander was supposedly improving such that he was scheduled to make a rehab start for Memphis on Friday. However, he was scratched just prior to the game.
Though Wacha’s time served on the 10-day DL can be applied to his 60-day DL time, the Cardinals are almost out of minor league games in which Wacha could pitch to prepare for a return. So it now looks like he will not be back in 2018.
The other is that Wainwright’s chances of remaining in the rotation for the remainder of the final season under his current contract have improved with the lack of availability of Wacha. Of course, Wainwright has to pitch well.
Wainwright becomes St. Louis’ 32nd active player in September.
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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