4:50pm: The Cards only anticipate a one-start absence from Wacha, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports on Twitter.
11:53am: The Cardinals announced Monday that right-hander Michael Wacha has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to patellar tendinitis in his left knee. The move is retroactive to April 19. In his place, infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis. The Cardinals did not provide any indication as to how long Wacha is expected to be sidelined.
Wacha, 27, hasn’t been at his best through his small sample of four starts in 2019. While he’s sporting a 10.1 K/9 mark that would be far and away a career high, he’s also averaged 5.9 walks per nine frames so far — a mark that would be a clear-cut worst. The right-hander’s velocity, swinging-strike rate and opponents’ chase rates have all gone in the wrong direction as compared to last season’s numbers, suggesting that he’ll have difficulty sustaining that strikeout rate. He’s also allowed five homers in just 21 1/3 innings after allowing only nine through 84 1/3 innings a year ago.
Wacha was penciled in to start Tuesday’s game against the division-rival Brewers, so St. Louis will need to find an alternative. Daniel Ponce de Leon last started on April 17, meaning he’d be a logical substitution in Wacha’s stead for tomorrow’s game.
With Carlos Martinez still ailing and Alex Reyes working shorter stints in Triple-A at the moment, the Cards are surely crossing their fingers that Wacha will be able to return to the club in relatively short order. There’s added incentive for the player himself, as well, considering that Wacha is slated to reach free agency for the first time in his career this winter. After totaling only 84 1/3 innings in 2018 and averaging just 24 starts per season in since becoming a fixture in the St. Louis rotation, a largely healthy season would bode well for Wacha, who will hit the open market at a rather youthful 28 years of age.
Gant could end up being the MVP of this team before it’s over
Unless they burn him out like Matheny did with Matt Bowman. Kimbrel and Keuchel are still out there, right?
But they have so much pitching depth lol. I’m a huge cards fan but kuechel or even gio Gonzalez would be a good pickup about now, especially since all of our starters have regressed early
Sick and tired of the Matheny blame. He just simply didn’t have the horses. No other manager could have done any better with the players he had. Let’s move on!
Except for the fact that the manager after him did do better. You’re an absolute moron
Really? Guess you didn’t watch much after matheny was gone!!
MM had the horse’s. Simple question then? Did MM get absolutely everything out of the team’s he was given?
The answer is obvious. MM failes because he never developed as a manager.
That was a good one, themed.
Really guess you didn’t see all of the personal movement that went with Matheny’s firing. Pay attention people.
Matheny could never actually manage a bullpen. Michael Wacha game 5 of the 2014 NLCS. Just one example you may remember of his incompetence at using the pen.
Matheny was/is/will be awful. He needed to be let go several years ago. You defending him makes you very suspect. How are you related to Mike? Only a person blind to the facts would defend him.
Managers get way too much blame and credit. There is a lot behind the manager like the rest of the coaching staff, which themed is saying was changed when MM left. Funny when people get all up in arms over someone defending a manager, when evaluating them is a fairly subjective thing.
It’s a bit early to heap any sort of praise on Schildt, there have been countless managers to take over for a fired one and succeed initially only to eventually be widely accepted as not good at their job
Screwball, it seems like that you didn’t watch much after Matheny was gone
Matheny sure got a lot of interviews this past winter…..
i was there..
The players available to Matheny was completely irrelevant. Take one look at both his refusal to use analytics and the dumpster fire that was the clubhouse chemistry and it’s very obvious to see why Matheny was a very poor manager.
Matheny goes to the bullpen. No matter who he calls on they can’t get anyone out. How is that bad managing?
He created that situation because nobody wanted to be there by, wait for it, being a bad manager.
Managing isn’t just about who you put on the field, it’s also how you communicate with the players and get them to work together as a team. That was not part of his skill set and it showed on the field.
LOL! Matheny bares no blame. Now that’s rich!
Maybe the Cards should consider acquiring a proven starter…lol
Wacha wacha…
Patella tendinitis doesn’t sound like an especially lengthy injury, but who knows.? Wacha has been up and down, but up against the Brewers who he was to face this week. Ponce de Leon is likely, but the Cards’ could opt for Gomber vs. the heavy left-handed Brew Crew. No need to rush Martinez or Reyes, and no need to consider outside help. Gant has been so awesome in the pen, moving him to start may not be wise. Could be a bull pen start. With Gallegos and Hensley both able to pitch multiple innings. Calling Gonzales a “reliable” starter is a stretch, and Keuchel isn’t ready to be inserted into a line-up, so why even consider it, with both Reyes and Martinez ready soon. The Cards’ are 12-9 with a really tough early schedule. All is well, and hopefully Wacha isn’t on the shelf long.
The only part of this move that irks me is the call-up of Robinson. The dude cannot hit. And with Edman raking in Memphis, following a great Spring, and with Thomas already being manned as a defensive replacement in center, and Munoz still an option, Robinson’s need as outfield versatility is minimal. Edman’s left-handed bat off the bench would be sweet.
Edman isn’t on the 40 man and isn’t worth burning his options on a call up that only is for 1 start per the Cards broadcast last night.
It’s just nice to know the Cardinals are loaded with great young pitching and this isn’t s problem like it would be for other teams. These kids just keep coming up and impressing. Looking forward to see them getting opportunities to shine.
He hasn’t been his best the season, yes. But his last start was very sharp. His biggest issue thus far has been staying on top of his pitches. He was last time out.
And I would like to see Gomber get a go, but I know rotations work out differently and I’m fine with Ponce getting a shot.
The Cards have at least the 3rd best starting depth on their 40-man. even with C-Mart, Reyes, and Wacha out they still have Mikolas, Waino, Gant, Hudson, Poncedeleon, Flaherty, and Helsley, and could even move Hicks back if need be. Not the Braves, perhaps, but very deep.
It’s not that they don’t have talent. It’s for the most part unproven at the ML level. So no one really knows what they’ve got.
I’m not getting all giddy that Hudson went 5 innings on Sunday. Poncedeleon isn’t what I consider starter material but he’ll do in a pinch. Similar to Gant he stuff is more tailored for the bullpen. Mikolas looked like he got it going a bit Saturday but truth be told the rotation has been a weak spot so far this season.
Only against the Brewers. The team is 10-4 against the rest of the league going into tonight.
They said he would just miss one start or two last June and we didn’t see him again so…I’m kinda skeptical.
I swear the Cardinals are so weird about injuries. It’s like they grossly underestimate the timetable.
Mikolas and Flathery, are the only potential quality starters. The other 3 starters in Wainwright, Wacha and Martinez (if healthy) have not pitch a full season in 3 plus seasons. A lot of “unproven or injury prone” starters, not close to a playoff staff. Long season. But Mozalik and Girsch failed to acquire a proven starter to make the team better.
CMart has only missed significant time to injury as of last year, so I don’t know what you’re referring to via the last 3 years. Wacha was the same in the 3 years previous to last. Waino is old, so no surprise there, but he’s been fine to start this year.