The Cardinals officially announced Thursday afternoon that they’ve recalled left-handed pitcher Tim Cooney from AAA Memphis to get the start when the team opens up a four game series at home against the San Diego Pirates Thursday evening. In a corresponding roster move, the team placed outfielder Jon Jay on the 15-day disabled list with what is classified as a stress reaction/bone bruise in his left wrist.
Jay, who missed most of May with wrist tendinitis, had minor surgery on the wrist in the offseason after experiencing discomfort occasionally throughout the last few years. The 30-year-old sat out the past two games in favor of Peter Bourjos.
Jay’s comments to MLB.com reporter Jenifer Langosch on Wednesday certainly did not seem encouraging. “It’s just been something that I’ve had to deal with all year,” Jay said. “I’m not feeling good. We’ll see what’s going to happen.”
In 65 at-bats since his return from the disabled list, Jay has hit just .185 with only two extra-base hits. While on the DL, Jay worked to rest and strengthen his wrist, but soon after his return from a minor-league rehab assignment on May 29 the pain began to return.
“It’s just been lingering,” manager Mike Matheny told Langosch. “Just strength-wise, he’s still having trouble getting it to where he feels like it’s normal.”
As for Cooney, the Cardinals cut short the lefty’s start Sunday at AAA Memphis after just 26 pitches over two innings in order to have him available this week. The 24-year-old is 6-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 88.2 innings this season. Cooney will be looking for better results than his last major-league outing, when he surrendered three runs in just 2 1/3 innings in his MLB debut.
The need for a spot starter on Thursday arises from a combination of Jaime Garcia’s injury and the club’s decision to give young starters Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez, whose innings are being monitored closely, the original extra day of rest that was planned. With Monday’s off-day, the club was able to shift Lance Lynn and John Lackey up one day, while still giving them their normal five days of rest, in order to cover Jaime Garcia’s scheduled Tuesday start. Garcia has been dealing with continued discomfort as a result of a groin strain suffered while running the bases last Wednesday in Miami, but hopes to be ready to start on of the games of the club’s day-night doubleheader against the Cubs on Tuesday at Wrigley. Read more about Garcia’s status here.
Feature image used under Creative Commons from Keith Allison. No changes made. Image license.
