photo: Adam Wainwright (USA TODAY Sports Images)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to today’s (Sunday) game that they have recalled right-handed pitcher John Brebbia from Memphis (AAA) and placed right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to April 20.
Brebbia, who was optioned to Memphis on April 19, gained a save that night with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief and four strikeouts in the Redbirds 2-1 win at Omaha.
Brebbia appeared in two games in relief for St. Louis earlier this season following an April 8 recall from Memphis, working 2.0 scoreless innings.
Wainwright posted his first win of the 2018 campaign last Tuesday (April 17) in a 5-3 decision over the Cubs. Wainwright is 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA in his three starts (15.2 IP) this season.
Brian Walton’s take
The reason Brebbia could be recalled inside of the normal 10-day waiting period after being sent down is because he is replacing an injured player. It was the right-hander’s second trip down Interstate 55 to Memphis already this season.
That injured player is, of course, the leader of the Cardinals pitching staff. On Sunday afternoon, Wainwright spoke on FOX Sports Midwest, explaining the move is intended to enable him to rest his elbow before the problem gets worse.
Always optimistic, here is his summary from Twitter.
All will be well in a few days.
— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) April 22, 2018
Wainwright opened the 2018 season on the disabled list as well, but that was due to a hamstring injury that occurred during spring training workouts. Obviously, that has no connection to his current elbow issue, which also plagued him during the 2017 season and led to a post-season clean-up procedure.
The right-hander’s time out could turn out to be as little as the 10-day minimum, but of course, that remains to be seen. One indicator of how long the club really thinks he will be inactive will be in how they decide to deal with his absence.
Wainwright’s next turn in the rotation had been scheduled for Tuesday evening to open the Mets series, with Luke Weaver following on Wednesday. The Cards have not yet publicly declared their adjusted rotation plan. With Monday off, they could simply move Weaver and the other starters up a day or they could promote de facto no. 6 starter Jack Flaherty from Triple-A Memphis. It is worth remembering that Weaver’s last outing was his worst of the season.
In Flaherty’s most recent start, last Thursday evening, The Cardinal Nation’s second-ranked prospect threw a seven-inning complete game for the Redbirds. That lowered the 22-year old’s season ERA to 2.25. His next scheduled outing for Memphis is scheduled Wednesday at home against Round Rock.
The Triple-A Redbirds have not yet announced their roster move to replace Brebbia.
Update: Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
The manager has clarified the rotation plans. No Flaherty.
https://twitter.com/JoeTrezz/status/988164680194625538
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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