Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas began a Triple-A rehab assignment this week, and it seems likely he’ll make his 2021 major league debut soon. Mikolas said his last rehab start should be May 16 or 17, after which he figures to return to the majors, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat tweets.
The Cardinals have gone the past year-plus without Mikolas, who missed 2020 as a result of a flexor tendon surgery and hasn’t pitched this season because of shoulder issues. Mikolas’ health woes have been rather unfortunate for the Cardinals, who haven’t gotten much bang for their buck on the four-year, $68MM extension they signed him to prior to the 2019 campaign. They gave Mikolas that deal on the heels of a tremendous 2018 season in which he logged a 2.83 ERA with an 18.1 percent strikeout rate and a 3.6 percent walk rate across 200 2/3 innings.
Of course, despite his recent injury problems, the Cardinals have received plenty of value from Mikolas since they lured him from Japan on a two-year, $15.5MM guarantee going into 2018. Mikolas owns a 3.46 ERA and a meager 3.9 percent walk rate across 384 2/3 frames with the Cardinals, so they’ll be glad to welcome him back.
Francys01
Great News. We need him in the starting rotation.
Daryl Pauley
This is a wait/see situation.
jimmyz
As someone who isn’t a Cards fan my only concern is if he’s still rocking a fierce late 80s/early 90s middle school gym teacher type handlebar mustache. If he shaved in the past 15 months then it’s a hard pass for me.
dugdog83
He’s a knuckleballer from the 70’s if you didn’t know
Cardsfan75
So you prefer dudes?
Bart Harley Jarvis
Whoa! Pump the hate breaks, Fox and Friends!
Cardinal
With no spring training along with injury…unlikely positive pitching results will occur until post all-star game
3Rivers
It’s fun for me to see the Cards suffer
Joel Peterson
Well you have a Donald Trump avatar. My guess is you just like hate……
sergefunction
Not so fast there. The noted avatar also features a baby’s pacifier, which is not the tool of a “you just like hate” type of person.
What we have here is the unicorn of unicorns, a hateful pacifist. Fit that if you can into your previously-orderly world.
Joel Peterson
Haha hateful pacifist. I like it. Probably a catholic joke in there somewhere but I will leave it alone.
ZabbiaI
C’mon, man!
Bart Harley Jarvis
I don’t believe it’s viewed as suffering in Baseball Heaven.
themed
If you have fun when the Cardinals suffer you don’t have fun often son.
stan lee the manly
Gant back to the bullpen is going to make it one of if not the best shut down unit in baseball.
Bart Harley Jarvis
If not one of the more hirsute bullpens in MLB. Dude’s got a gorgeous flow.
seth3120
If he can stay healthy they can win the central and maybe make a little noise. Thing with the Cardinals is they are so deep especially this year now that they have a few legit bats. A crushing injury to most seems like a minor set back. I do think they win the central but the playoffs are won by shut down guys they seem to lack. The Arenado trade was huge but they don’t have a Buehler, Cole, etc… I like them don’t get me wrong but beating up on a weak central doesn’t win championships but makes the season interesting.
dfinmozarks
Seth. Your comment is right on. The Cards have a fine chance of holding on against the Brewers but their weak rotation will wipe them out early in the post even if Mikolas comes back strong. We need to see Goldie, Arenado and DeJong hitting with more consistently and see CMart finally realizing his potential or our post season chances yare slim.