By Chris Brown – STL Baseball Today

While position players Jhonny Peralta and Yadier Molina combined to go 2-2 with an RBI and a walk in the National League’s 3-6 loss in Wednesday’s All-Star Game in Cincinnati, many Cardinals fans were disappointed that no redbird pitcher made an appearance. Although closer Trevor Rosenthal was unavailable due to arm fatigue, it was assumed Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha would be available. But as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch passed along, it was unlikely the young hurlers would pitch in the Midsummer Classic:

Bochy said he talked to Matheny, held #Cardinals starters Wacha, Martinez back for extra innings. They watched most of game from dugout #ASG

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) July 15, 2015

Holliday nearing Friday return

Elected as a fan-starter for the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, Matt Holliday was hoping to make it back to play in Wednesday’s Midsummer Classic. Although the decision was made that is wasn’t worth the risk of activating him during the team’s weekend series in Pittsburgh, all signs point to the veteran outfielder being in the lineup Friday when the Cardinals open up their post-break schedule at home against the New York Mets.

Although Holliday sat out the All-Star Game itself, he did participate in batting practice and went through a series of running drills in the outfield, Goold reports.

The 35-year-old has been out since June 9 due to a grade two quad strain suffered while chasing a fly ball in Colorado. Holliday was hitting .303 with three home runs, ten doubles, and 26 RBIs in 52 games before the injury.

Rosenthal rests arm

After feeling “a little sore” following a bullpen session on Monday, closer Trevor Rosenthal texted Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and later spoke with NL manager Bruce Bochy, and the decision was made that Rosenthal would not appear in the All-Star Game. The 25-year-old told Goold that he believed it was just a case of arm fatigue and that an extra day off would do him some good.

“I really wanted to be able to pitch in the game,” Rosenthal said. “I knew if I appeared Sunday it would be hard to justify pitching (in the All-Star Game). They didn’t want to take anything away from me. (Bochy) didn’t feel like he would be pressing to get me in. I’ll take the rest.”

Rosenthal had an excellent first half, posting a 1.49 ERA with strikeouts while converting 26 saves over 42 1/3 innings, however he had back-to-back rough outings in his final two appearances before the break, and he acknowledged to Goold he wasn’t at full strength during his Saturday outing.

After a few days off, Rosenthal should be back at full strength come Friday.

More news and notes

• Local FOX affiliate KTVI Ch. 2 drew a 17.9 rating for Wednesday’s All-Star Game, the 3rd highest in the U.S., Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
• This MLB.com video provides an inside look at the Cardinals players at the All-Star Game.
• Al Melchior of CBS Sports provides the details on how Michael Wacha was just as confused about his injury last seasons as the media:

(1/2) Most mind-blowing revelation from ASG Media Day: Michael Wacha was just as confused about his injury last season as the rest of us.

— Al Melchior (@almelchiorBB) July 14, 2015

Wacha referred to the injury as a "stress reaction or stress fracture, whatever it was."

— Al Melchior (@almelchiorBB) July 14, 2015

 

Featured image used under Creative Commons by Keith Allison. No changes made. Image license.