12:04 PM: Speaking to reporters (including John Denton), Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol explained that McGreevy was called up because the team presumed Lynn would need an IL stint for his knee. However, the skipper noted that Pallante, not McGreevy, will remain in the rotation while Lynn is out. The team does not believe the injury is especially serious (per Katie Woo), and it is not expected to require surgery (per Jeff Jones). Instead, Lynn will take a rest and rehab approach to his recovery.
11:02 AM: The Cardinals have formally selected Michael McGreevy’s contract from Triple-A Memphis, the team announced. To make room on the 40-man roster, Jacob Bosiokovic has been designated for assignment. Bosiokovic, 30, had his contract selected at the end of June, but while he spent four days with the big league club, he did not get into a game to make his MLB debut. In 33 appearances this year for Memphis, he has a 3.95 ERA and a 29.4% strikeout rate, though his 14.1% walk rate is a cause for concern. He will now have a week to pass through waivers. If he clears waivers, the Cardinals will have the option to send him outright back to Triple-A.
In additional Cardinals news, the team placed Lance Lynn on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation. Lynn pitched well against the Rangers last night, limiting Texas to one run on three hits over five innings. However, he told reporters after the game (including Woo) that he was nursing pain in his knee. Woo noted that he was walking with “a pretty noticeable limp.” John Denton of MLB.com suggests that Lynn’s injury is “pretty serious,” and that the veteran fears his right knee could be “severely damaged.” However, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reported last night that Lynn and the Cardinals will “monitor” the injury and “see how he recovers.” While Lynn is out, St. Louis could choose to give McGreevy a couple of extra turns in the rotation. Alternatively, they could push back Andre Pallante’s move to the bullpen.
By placing Lynn on the IL, the Cardinals made room for McGreevy on the active roster. St. Louis also recalled right-handed reliever Ryan Loutos from Triple-A and optioned fellow righty reliever Chris Roycroft.
July 30: The Cardinals are planning to promote pitching prospect Michael McGreevy to start Wednesday’s game against the Rangers (per Katie Woo of The Athletic). It will be the right-hander’s MLB debut. St. Louis will need to make corresponding moves to make room for the rookie on the 26 and 40-man rosters.
McGreevy, who turned 24 earlier this month, was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in the 2021 draft. His prospect stock has fallen significantly since he was drafted 18th overall, but he remains a consensus top-30 prospect in the Cardinals’ system. Keith Law of The Athletic remained particularly high on McGreevy entering the 2024 season, ranking him at No. 8 in the organization. Law made note of his durability and suggested, “He would be an easy No. 4 starter if he could get left-handed batters out.” Unfortunately for McGreevy, he has continued to struggle against opposite-handed opponents during his second season at Triple-A. While he has held righties to a .628 OPS in 207 trips to the plate, lefty batters have torched him for an .839 OPS in 261 plate appearances. Thus, his overall numbers have been lackluster. In 20 starts, he has a 4.45 ERA and a 4.31 FIP, only a slight improvement upon his 4.49 ERA and 4.52 FIP in 24 starts at Triple-A last season. Nevertheless, the Cardinals have decided he’s ready to give it a go in the majors, at least temporarily.
McGreevy’s debut will likely just be a spot start. Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat explains that the Cardinals are looking to get their starting five a little extra rest amid a stretch of 16 games in 16 days. Lance Lynn is starting for St. Louis tonight, and after McGreevy’s turn on Wednesday, the rotation will line up as follows: Sonny Gray, recent trade acquisition Erick Fedde, Kyle Gibson, and Miles Mikolas (per Jones). It is unclear how Andre Pallante, who has been in the Cardinals’ rotation since the end of May, fits into this equation. According to Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, manager Oli Marmol has “not sat down yet” with Pallante to discuss his role moving forward. However, Marmol did confirm that he plans to return to a five-man rotation after this week (per Worthy). Thus, Pallante will most likely head to the bullpen. While the right-hander will surely bolster the team’s relief corps, it is noteworthy that the Cardinals are presumably choosing to promote McGreevy for a spot start rather than giving Pallante one last look in the rotation.
Can’t get out lefties so we’ll bring him up for a start against the Rangers. Could be an ugly one quick.
I might throw ten bucks on Corey Seager to hit a bomb today
Well, he pitched 7 strong innings and got the W.
Too bad he’s not facing the Cubs and Pete Crow-Armstrong. “Little Big League” fans will understand.
Mac: You’re a frickin’ primadonna, McGrevey. You don’t deserve to wear that uniform.
Mike McGrevey: You know, you’re right, Mac. I’m a disgrace to the Twins. I think you should trade me.
Mac: As soon as we find someone dumb enough to take you, that’s EXACTLY what we’re gonna do.
Billy Heywood: No we’re not. We’re not trading you.
Mike McGrevey: So what are you going to do, bench me?
Billy Heywood: Nope, play you. When it’s your turn to pitch, you pitch. Nothing changes.
Mike McGrevey: You know, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I have a feeling my concentration’s not going to be that good out there. I might tend to forget some of those scouting reports.
Billy Heywood: Well, that’s up to you, you’re the free agent. Hey Mac, what’s the going rate for an absent-minded pitcher who can’t get anybody out?
I thought of the exact same thing! Thanks for this. Not the same scene but… Night Nurses from Jersey! They’re off the turnpike and on duty for love…
Kinda hard to start Pallante after he started last night
Pallante deserves better. They should have at least sat him down for the talk right after acquiring Fedde. But I don’t expect good communication from Oli.
How do you know they didn’t talk to him? Were you there? It’s been well publicized they were looking for another starter so it’s not like he would have been blindsided by the move anyway.
Because I read this entire post that includes a quote from Oli that said they haven’t talked yet. Try reading the article next time.
Caho,
Was he there? How could somebody be there for something that didn’t happen?
Pallante started yesterday. What do you expect? They needed a starter for Wednesday and they aren’t starting the guy that just started Monday.
Pham wasted no time making an impact. Grand slam in his first AB.
Mo is a genius, lol.
Lol
Mixed feelings on this. Mcgreevy has earned the opportunity. Memphis is a tough place to pitch he hasn’t been great but he’s been decent. But the timing I don’t like. Truly its a year too late last year we had some bums pitching when he should have had a shot and earned the experience for when it actually matters like now.
If the issue is getting left handed hitters out, he needs another pitch. Probably a change-up, cutter, or splitter. This is probably not the right time or the right opponent. Why not Thompson? Already on the 40.
I don’t think Pallante should lose his spot in the rotation. With an average age of 63 1/2 in our rotation, a 6-man rotation for the rest of the year would make sense. But Oli knows best.
Yeah I would have stuck with Pallante. I do think Mcgreevy deserves a shot but not right now when the team is in the thick of the playoff chase.
How about Pham tonight. Big win big moment wish I was at the park.
The Pham Slam was awesome! It reminds me of Fred McGriff going to the Braves at the deadline and hitting a home run as Fulton County Stadium caught on fire.
I hope Pham and his slam have the same effect on this team McGriff had on those Braves.
Man I should remember that but I don’t. Yeah it was electric the ovation and then the slam it was awesome. I don’t know if the team is good enough but it’s fun having some hope again.
’93 or ’94. Something like that.
It’s even worse when the Rangers 3 best hitters are lefties. Seager, Lowe, and Smith. This could be a shelling
Thompson is on the IL and he’s also unraveled as well. He’s lost his control. Thompson has 38 walks in 54 innings at Memphis, toting a 1.55 WHIP to boot.
To be honest I would have like to have seen Graceffo come up again.
I hate when they throw somebody in the rotation that in most likelihood will give up too many runs and cause another lost series.
Lynn is my champion. He was obviously not himself, as he relied heavily on his CHANGEUP! 5 innings of 1 run ball, outpitching Scherzer. Gutsy performance!
We are so glad for you.
I don’t understand these pitcher WARs. Lynn has 0. Morton has .5. Lynn has a better era+. So how has Morton been more valuable results wise? It’s not a lot. But I always see these sort of things.
Great now we aren’t actually going to use Mcgreevy as a starter. Because that’s good for his development. And then a year from now people will say he sucks and can’t make it eventhough he never got a real chance he just got jerked around like all the other young pitchers have. Terrific.
…but he is starting?
It sounds like he’s not starting but maybe I misunderstood.
He probably needs to prove he can get AAA lefties out before you have to worry about him.
McGreevy just pitched 7 innings of 1 hit ball and got the win in his debut as a starting pitcher. He looked pretty darn good against everybody.
Yeah he looked great. I hope like heck he gets another shot he earned it.
Graceffo had a line drive off his pitching hand couple days ago . May have been reason . I kinda wondered that too if he was available since he was already on the 40 man
It’s too bad Lynn got hurt, he was pitching his best stretch in his last 3 starts, but then again, they get more starts from Pallante.
If Pallante pitches well in this stretch, it makes picking up Lynn’s option more unlikely in the off-season. If Pallante ever had an audition, this is it. He’s been pretty good and shown some consistency.
I would like to see his WHIP get under 1.30, if that happens then he’s a rotation option from now on.
That was a very nice first start for McGreevy.
McGreevy tossing a gem against the Rangers has just made Mozeliak’s head explode.
I remember when the Cards drafted him in 2021 and some baseball insiders speculated he would be MLB ready because of his command of his pitches. I guess he has been working on other pitches in Springfield and Memphis. Hope he comes back soon or stays for a bit while Lynn is on IL