Carpenter to join team Tuesday in Cleveland

General manager John Mozeliak confirmed to reporters on Monday afternoon that third baseman Matt Carpenter, who was resting in St. Louis during the club’s weekend series in Pittsburgh with “extreme fatigue,” will join the team Tuesday in Cleveland as they begin a three game series against the Indians.

Carpenter started the club’s first 27 games this season before being sidelined for last Thursday’s game against the Cubs, in what was a scheduled day off for the 29-year-old. It was revealed on Friday in Pittsburgh that Carpenter had not traveled with the team after experiencing dehydration, dizziness, and an accelerated heart rate, among other symptoms. Carpenter was being monitored closely by the team’s medical staff after leaving the team’s May 3 game with dizziness.

“We’re excited to get him back,” Mozeliak told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Monday afternoon. “I think having rest helped him and certainly I know he’s excited to be in Cleveland and meet the club tomorrow.”

The GM added that Carpenter is not a certainty to be in Tuesday’s lineup because that decision is left up to manager Mike Matheny.

Carpenter has been one of baseball’s best hitters over the first six weeks of the season, with a .333/.403/.620 slash line and five home runs.

Read more: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Lyons to get another turn in rotation as Garcia, Gonzales continue rehab

In a conference call with reporters on Monday, GM John Mozeliak revealed that lefty Tyler Lyons will remain in the rotation for at least one more turn as southpaws Jaime Garcia and Marco Gonzales continue their rehab assignments. Lyons will get the ball next on Saturday in Detroit when the redbirds take on the Tigers in Interleague action. Gonzales and Garcia, meanwhile, will each make at least one more rehab start after they both had rough first outings over the weekend. Per Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, Gonzales will remain on the AAA Memphis roster and make his next start there, while Garcia will meet with Mozeliak Tuesday to determine the location of his next start:

“At a minimum, this gives each of them one more start, and I could envision a couple more before we’re really at that comfort level,” Mozeliak said. “In one regard, someone is coming from higher volume in Garcia’s case, but he hasn’t had a lot of game opportunities, so we have to be patient with that. And in Marco’s case, he just has to get his volume back up. I would expect that to be relatively quick, but we also want to be smart about it.”

Mozeliak added (via the Post-Dispatch) that the two are “evenly matched” when it comes to who could be first ready to start in the big-leagues.

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Jay’s availability a “game-time decision” on Tuesday

Mozeliak also said that center fielder Jon Jay’s availability for Tuesday’s series opener against the Indians will be a “game-time decision.” Jay was unable to swing a bat on Sunday due to a bruised left wrist, but Mozeliak said he does not expect it to linger for long.

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Grichuk picks up to hits in extended spring training game

Young outfielder Randal Grichuk, sidelined since April 18 with a lower back strain, picked up a single and a double in an extended spring training game in Jupiter, Florida on Monday. Grichuk’s rehab was delayed a few days after he experienced back tightness during his trip down to Florida. The 23-year-old will play in games all week in Jupiter before the team decides whether or not to send him on a rehab assignment.

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ESPN picks up June 7 game vs Dodgers

ESPN announced Monday that it’s selected the Cardinals-Dodgers game on June 7th for it’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. It will be the redbird’s fifth Sunday night game shown already this season, while it will be just the first Sunday night appearance for the Dodgers. First pitch is now scheduled for just after 7pm CT.

Read more: True Blue LA

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Cards Reads

• After reporting over the weekend that the Cardinals are considering a six-man rotation, Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch takes a look at the major problem that goes along with it.
• Former Cardinals pitcher and current ESPN broadcaster Mark Mulder discussed Adam Wainwright’s injury and his discussions with Wainwright about the recovery with Brian Stull of St. Louis Baseball Weekly. Mulder tore his Achilles tendon last spring during a comeback attempt with the Angels.

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Beat writers Goold and Langosch answer questions from Cards fans

On Monday Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hosted a chat answering questions from Cardinals fans, while Jenifer Langosch of Cardinals.com answered fans’ questions in the latest addition of her inbox articles. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

• Goold, on whether former redbird Kyle Lohse (now with the Brewers) could make sense as a trade acquisition for the Cardinals: “Lohse makes a lot of sense. He checks a lot of boxes, as the Cardinals like to say. Though there has been no concrete evidence of interest at this time. He just fits the type.”
• Goold, on the status of rehabbing outfielder Randal Grichuk: “Grichuk is in Florida set to play in extended spring training games. He’s doing that to determine if he even needs a rehab assignment. Mozeliak said he hasn’t decided that yet. It would be a way for the Cardinals to get Grichuk some games at a higher level without optioning him to that level.”
• Goold, on Carlos Martinez and the level of concern surrounding the young starter: “Carlos Martinez is going to go through these learning curves, just as Shelby Miller did before him. The Cardinals rode them out with Miller and now Atlanta is getting the benefit. The Cardinals intend to ride them out with Martinez because they are banking that there will be a higher return or a quicker return, or maybe they think there will be both. Regardless, they knew going in that Martinez would have some dud outings and would have to find that equilibrium emotionally like Lance Lynn did and that pitch efficiency like Miler did.”
• Langosch, on who the Cardials would prefer to have fill Adam Wainwright’s spot in the rotation- Jaime Garcia or Marco Gonzales?: “Garcia, if all goes well for him over the next week, will most likely get the first call. For one, Garcia, who threw 72 pitches for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, is further along than Gonzales, who lasted just 56 pitches on Saturday. That puts Garcia potentially just one more rehab start away from being considered for the Major League rotation.”
• Goold, on how soon we should see Jaime Garcia and/or Marco Gonzales in the big-leagues: “Within 2 1/2 weeks.”
• Goold, on reducing the MLB schedule down from 162 games: “Not a fan. But I don’t have a good reason for feeling that way. There’s nothing magical about 162 games except for that’s the way it’s been my entire life. With an added layer of playoffs it’s a better argument than ever.”
• Goold, on whether or not the Cubs are the biggest threat to the redbirds in the NL Central: “Yep. Have to remain consistent and I’ve seen nothing to change my mind.”
• Langosch, on who will serve as the main 8th-inning reliever with Jordan Walden sidelined: “It will be largely by committee, though expect to see Seth Maness get much of the eighth-inning work. While we’ve grown accustomed to seeing Maness summoned when the team needs a double play, the Cardinals like how the right-hander fits in a setup role. Matt Belisle and Kevin Siegrist will also factor into those late innings.”
• Goold, on extended spring training: “Extended spring training is the camp at Jupiter, Fla., that connects minor-league spring training to the start of the short-seson clubs. It’s where players can continue to play and work and rehab, if necessary, before being assigned to the teams that only play half seasons. Those are the affiliates that start after the draft. Teams need something for the prospects to do in April, May, and June before, for example. State College starts.”
• Goold, on how much Adam Wainwright has been/will be around the club following surgery: “He has not because the most important part of the Achilles’ recovery is being immobilized in the first few weeks to allow for the wound to heal. This is when setbacks happen because the injury is so close to the skin that infection and other issues can creep in during the healing process. Howard had a setback that added weeks to his recovery, and it started during those initial days after surgery. Wainwright wanted to avoid that, and is staying off his feet and away from anywhere but home to do so. Once cleared to start his rehab and start moving around again, he intends to be with the team at home games, yes.”

 

Carpenter image used under Creative Commons from Keith Allison. Image cropped. Image licence.

Garcia image used under Creative Commons from Barbara Moore. No changes made. Image License.