Published 4:52 pm CT, Last Updated 7:11 pm:
The Cardinals placed staff ace Carlos Martinez on the disabled list for the third time this season on Tuesday, one day after the right-hander exited his return start from the DL in the fifth inning with a right shoulder sprain.
Reliever Tyler Webb, who had just been optioned to AAA Memphis, will rejoin the team and take Martinez’s roster spot after throwing two scoreless innings against the Cubs on Sunday in his big-league debut.
As for Martinez, the move to the DL was not a surprise, as the 26-year-old experienced diminished velocity before exiting Monday’s win over the Rockies and underwent an MRI later that evening.
General manager Michael Girsch told Fox Sports Midwest’s Jim Hayes prior to Tuesday’s game that Martinez is not dealing with any structural damage and the team is hopeful that he’ll return in a few weeks.
The Cardinals also announced Tuesday that outfielder Tyler O’Neill has been recalled from AAA Memphis to take the roster spot of Tommy Pham, who was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays just hours before the trade deadline.
[Related: Cardinals trade Tommy Pham to Rays for minor leaguers]
The 23-year-old O’Neill played in 19 games for the big-league club earlier this season, and is hitting .311/.388/.711 at Memphis this season with 26 home runs and 61 RBI in 61 games.
The right-handed hitter is batting sixth and playing center field for the redbirds Tuesday night.
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