Little to nothing has gone according to plan for St. Louis’ rotation in 2019. Onetime top starter Carlos Martinez has settled for a relief role after shoulder weakness slowed him during the spring. Miles Mikolas, unexpectedly the Cardinals’ No. 1 starter a year ago, has taken sizable steps backward. So has Michael Wacha, whom the Cardinals demoted to their bullpen last month. Meanwhile, ex-ace Adam Wainwright and young starters Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson have produced decent bottom-line results, but no one’s confusing them with front-line options at this point.
At 30-29 and within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot, St. Louis could reel in a rotation upgrade(s) from outside the organization via trade and/or free agency in the next couple months. As things stand, though, righty Alex Reyes might represent the Cardinals’ best chance to make a near-term improvement in their starting five. The 24-year-old has barely pitched in the majors this season, having totaled three innings in relief during the first week before the Cardinals optioned him to Triple-A Memphis. Three weeks later, Reyes fractured his left pinky while punching a wall after a minor league start. That ill-advised decision cost Reyes a few weeks, but he’s back to pitching at the minors’ highest level and could be within one start of a return to the majors, manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday (via Mark Saxon of The Athletic).
“Alex is clearly a guy who, when right, we’d like to have available if the need is there,” Shildt stated. “He’s definitely in the mix.”
It’s easy to see why the Cardinals are holding out hope for a Reyes breakthrough. Reyes was one of the game’s elite farmhands not long ago, and he justified his high rankings on top 100 prospect lists with a 1.57 ERA/2.67 FIP during a 46-inning debut in 2016. But Reyes underwent Tommy John surgery prior to 2017 and then required a season-ending procedure on his right lat last June.
Reyes’ injuries have helped prevent him from building on his initial showing in the majors, though he may get his first real opportunity to do so this year. Fellow young flamethrower Genesis Cabrera, whom the Cardinals promoted May 27 in an effort to boost their rotation, gave the team his second subpar start in as many tries Tuesday. Cabrera’s scheduled to make his next start Sunday in Chicago, but the club could go in another direction by then. Even if Cabrera does pitch against the Cubs, he may need to turn in a much-improved performance to get another start.
Wainwright, Wacha and Martinez have not pitch a full season due to injuries for 3 years. When they do pitch , their ERA is 4 plus. Why is it a surprise their starters are again average to below.
Your comment is below average as so far this season Wainwright’s been killing it I guess you are a troll not a fan. Carlos when he’s on is great. Injuries are part of the game but signing Keuchel is like signing Holland, remember him were you complaining until we signed him? See how that ended, rotation has been showing improvement
A 4.34 era with a 4.66 fip is killing it? Ok…
asdfgh, themed, cards81…all the same caliber commenter. Facts are always irrellevant, unless they can be manipulated one way.
Fact. Wainwright has been everything and more than the Cards could have hoped for, especially lately. A couple of rough starts inflated his ERA, but he is convincing me he belongs in the rotation. Fact, Dakota Hudson has been brilliant in his last 3 starts, looks to have turned the corner. Fact, Flaherty, while hasn’t quite pitched up to his 2018 level, has still been dominate, better lately, and still one of the games’ best. Fact, Mikolas has been mostly quite good. He probably isn’t an ace, but has a lot more good outings than bad. Fact, with those 4, and Martinez, Gant, Ponce, Gomber (soon), Reyes et al the Red Birds don’t need to be looking towards a Keukel signing. What they should be concentrating on is acquiring a left-handed corner outfielder with thump. Fact.
FACT: 10TH IN THE NL IN STARTERS ERA
Fact, the Cards have faced one of the toughest schedules to date. Fact the starter’s ERA has been inflated by the 5th starter, be it Wacha, Cabrera or others. Fact, the combo of Mikolas, Hudson, Flaherty, and Wainwright have all pitched much better recently. Fact, the Cards have plenty of options, Gant, Ponce, Gomber, Martinez, and Reyes, better than Cabrera. Opinion. The Cards should be concentrating on the offense, especially a lefty corner outfielder.
Fact. Thanks for chiming in Mr. Mozeliak. I love excuses. Save those for your memos to the media.
Were I the Cards’ GM, I would be pursuing a left handed bat, but thanks for the job anyway.
C mart hasn’t been good in two years. What’s your definition of killing it?
You continue to come on here stating Wainwright is killing it. Why? He walked 7 hitters his last outing. He lucked out by not getting shelled. His WHIP is 1.372, that is pedestrian. His road ERA is 6.34. STFU with your analysis. You sound like a dolt. Wainwright is average to mediocre. He’s not “killing it.”
“Lucked out by not getting shelled?”. You, conveniently omitted his hit total 2. Yeah, he walked 7. But if you actually watched the game you would have seen it was actually a pretty crafty approach, never making mistakes over the heart of the plate, inducing weak contact, shutting out the Cubbies over 8 frames using 126 pitches to do so. It was masterful. Now I am not encouraging 7 walk outings on a regular basis, (Waino walked none in the previous game), but 9 baseruners over 8 frames is doable. I have no idea if Waino, can continue to pitch as well as he has lately. But I do know that he was hitting 92 on the radar gun after 120 pitches, which is pretty remarkable. He certainly deserves a number of more outings, and I would sure as hell prefer him, and his minimal salary, over the Keukel of the past couple of years, and the funds it would require to land him.
7 walk outing masterful? I watched it. He was all over the place with an umpire giving him 6″ off the outside of the plate.
Well then you were not watching very closely, because at least a half a dozen break-in balls that were no more than an inch off the outside corner we’re not given to him. To suggest that the ump had a wide plate is grossly inaccurate. If anything the zone was tight.
That’s funny, but typical when you wear rose colored glasses that are out of focus.
It was an excellent performance and he wasnt given anything off the plate. If he was he wouldn’t have walked 7. BTW. He wasnt wild at all. he purposely avoided throwing strikes to a team that will crush you for those. If he was given 6 inches off the plate as you claim good pitchers take that. Hell Mddux is a HOFer by being given strikes that werent
You are so far off base on this comment. It is amazing how blind Cards fans are. If that was Lester pitching that day, and he walked 7 and still got generous calls, this forum of sheeple would be blasting Lester on how awful yet lucky he was. It’s that simple. I’ve read all types of cardinals forums over the years, and it’s the same shiitt everyday. Predictable. Pathetic.
please consult Themed and Cards81 to be corrected with proper 1-sided propoganda.
Since Clepto is so obsessed with me…seriously I haven’t been on in awhile because I’m enjoying Blues hockey…but allow me to make Cleptos day…wainwright has been what the cardinals hoped…a great 5th starter…I don’t want to look at the stats but he is probably a top 5th starter in the game…he just pitched a shutout for 8 innings against the cubs…in which he pitched a no hitter into the 6th…and locked down a sweep of the Cubs…so I would say that is what he meant by “killing it” as of late…he always gives the cardinals a chance to win no matter what the stats say…the rotation is coming around and really it’s a trade away or maybe a signing to stabilize it…cardinals are fine they just need to get some players going…Goldy for one….thanks for subscribing Clepto have a nice day
Funny how you forgot the 7 walks. Keep hoping for outings like that from Wainwright and see what happens 90% of the time. Which one of you on here is John Mozeliak using a fake name?
Funny how you forgot the fact that you so boastfully talked about all this pitching depth at beginning of the season…..just the names mentioned in this article, ironically. Cant forget the farm system boastings…..and the denial when you were told it was nothing more than a middling system….but lets not let fact get in the way. Those are just a minor inconvenience.
Reality must sting. Do you take pills to cope? Are these pills also embossed with a StL logo too??
I never mentioned anything about this starting staff being good. You have mistaken me for someone else, but nice try.
i wasnt responding to you. go back and re-read.
So nick Stevens you’re saying that if I hope that wainwright throws a shut out for 8 innings I will see what happens 90% of the time…I’m guessing you mean he will win and probably be a cy young candidate…even I don’t have that much confidence in wainwright
Ummm they still do have pitching depth? The only reason Gomber is not up is because he is on the IL…also Reyes is on the mend…geez Clepto do you know anything…the farm system you speak of has produced Flaherty, Dejong, Bader and still has a promising group on the way…Clepto I’m sure you’re a cubs fan…hows that farm system doing lol…do you just come on here to troll me or what lol good try though
You do realize you just proved my point? Need it laid out for you, like mommy does for your clothes, daily?
Facts are like the bad bullies down the street. “Mommy tells me to just ignore bad things.” -Cards81
Lol wow! You’re mom must be proud…internet tough guy Clepto is the best on mlbtrade rumors lol hey I have a life to live…so if you would like to read more of my comments I’ll be on at a later date…plus the blues play tonight..I’ll also be in Chicago this weekend maybe you won’t be so tough if I run into you…have a good one and try to be a little more optimistic in life
No, if he walks 7 guys the odds are he won’t make it past 5 innings and allow plenty of runs. That game was an anomaly. But hell, I’m talking to a bunch of sheep here. I don’t expect you all to understand baseball.
Well aren’t we all so fortunate that you should take the time to address us. Who are we to disagree with someone of such extreme supiority to us Baseball IQ peons. Just so we all can save time, just let us know when you are going to comment, in order that we all can observe in revered silence your wisdom on high.
Good to see you understand.
After the money the Cards invested this offseason, 30-29 is a disappointment. Why they’re not looking at Dallas is surprising. Yes, I know they have spent more than anyone expected recently, but a mid-market team like the Cards can’t afford to spend what they have without playoff appearances being the end result. Go big on a one year deal, and if it doesn’t work out, he, along with Ozuna can walk out the door in the offseason to help massage the books a bit.
It’s been reported that the cardinals are in on Keuchel…will they sign him idk…personally I would look at a trade for Bauer if the Indians sell…maybe Bum or Stroman
No need to trade for anything. Farm system is the best and loaded! Cardinal Way!!!
It must kill you that the cardinals are a very successful organization…take a breath Clepto and get over yourself…it’s going to be ok…life has it’s up and downs…be more optimistic
Since I dont live in the past, lets think about that. Envious of a team who hasnt made the playoffs in three, soon to be 4 years, with a below average farm system depth. Hmm. Let me “take a breath.”
The Cards need to convince Washington to trade Scherzer. Problem solved.
If Wainwright is KILLING IT, what is Dakota Hudson doing? I guess he would be a Serial Killer?
Flaherty absolutely has top of the rotation upside. He’s been unlucky and needs to cut the walks down (like most young pitchers), but he’s the guy who will lead the rotation for many years. CMart and Reyes both need to be in the rotation. Move Hudson and Cabrera to the bullpen, both are relievers, not starters.
“Lucked out by not getting shelled?”. You, conveniently omitted his hit total 2. Yeah, he walked 7. But if you actually watched the game you would have seen it was actually a pretty crafty approach, never making mistakes over the heart of the plate, inducing weak contact, shutting out the Cubbies over 8 frames using 126 pitches to do so. It was masterful. Now I am not encouraging 7 walk outings on a regular basis, (Waino walked none in the previous game), but 9 baseruners over 8 frames is doable. I have no idea if Waino, can continue to pitch as well as he has lately. But.I do know that he was hitting 92 on the radar gun after 120 pitches, which is pretty remarkable. He certainly deserves number of more outings, and I would sure as hell prefer him, and his minimal salary, over the Keukel of the past couple of years, and the funds it would require to land him.
Reyes needs to be traded plain and simple if he was stuck in the deal with the marlins they might have had Ozuna and Yelich.
we have a good core of players but MO is needing to up his game and get some better bow ties also. Needing a couple of Lefties to offset all the one dimensional pitching we have.
Our one dimentional righty hitting is of greater concern.