NEW YORK 鈥 When Michael Siani joins the Cardinals on Monday afternoon in Milwaukee and completes their expanded 28-player roster, he鈥檒l do so as the starting center fielder with an opportunity to see how far he can run with that role.
How the larger roster will impact the rotation is less direct.
The Cardinals officially added lefty Steven Matz to their active roster Sunday, and in the coming week, they鈥檒l decide if Lance Lynn is ready to return from a knee injury. Matz was available out of the bullpen Sunday at Yankee Stadium as the Cardinals decided whether he鈥檒l start a game in Milwaukee or continue as a reliever. Regardless of where Matz and Lynn slide into the rotation, this much is clear: That same opportunity they鈥檙e looking to give Siani is center or Jordan Walker in right, Andre Pallante has earned as a starter.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 fair,鈥 manager Oliver Marmol said.
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Before leaving the Bronx, the Cardinals announced Pallante would start Monday against the division leader in the Cardinals鈥 last stand of the season against Milwaukee.
Matz warmed up briefly during the Cardinals鈥 14-7 victory against the Yankees on Sunday, and the Cardinals did not commit to any starters beyond Monday for the three-game series in Milwaukee. It took five relievers covering the final five innings Sunday, and that could prompt the Cardinals to keep Matz available if needed Monday, though Pallante has recently proven he can provide quantity and quality when it comes to innings.
After midseason reinvention as a starter, Pallante has gained momentum with each passing month 鈥 and in recent starts has shown the ability to adjust in game and bulldoze deeper into it. Pallante followed back-to-back seven-inning wins with a strong 5鈪 innings this past week against San Diego. In his past seven starts, Pallante has a 3.29 ERA, and he鈥檚 averaged nearly six innings an outing.
Matz spent all of August on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Memphis. The extended stretch with the Cardinals鈥 top affiliate allowed Matz to maintain a starter鈥檚 schedule, remain with a team and replicate a spring training-like buildup.
It also bought him the time needed to soothe a herniated disc.
Matz last pitched April 30 at Detroit as he tried to press through some back discomfort that was later diagnosed as a back strain. The herniated disc was causing persisting pain 鈥 and he was told at the time that it might need 10 days or 10 weeks of rest to calm, he said. Ultimately, an injection to directly address the injury helped alleviate the pain and allowed him to go through the lengthy rehab assignment. In six starts for Triple-A Memphis, Matz had a 4.29 ERA and allowed 24 hits against 17 strikeouts in 21 innings.
With one year remaining on his contract with the Cardinals, Matz has been frustrated that a year that started strong in spring was abbreviated again by injury.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely disappointing, especially how I felt coming out of the gates this year,鈥 Matz said. 鈥淚 felt so good. I felt like this was really going to be a year that I can really help the team. Here I am now. Be in the moment. And I鈥檝e got a chance to do it again. Just finishing healthy and pitching some important innings down the stretch.鈥
Siani returns to .256 average, .297 on-base percentage and the role he had when he tore the torso muscle. An elite defender, Siani made strides offensively to become a regular for the Cardinals and take a position initially deeded to Tommy Edman and Dylan Carlson, both of whom were traded in late July, just days before Siani鈥檚 injury. Marmol said he鈥檇 like to see Siani 鈥済et the bulk of the time in center.鈥
Rookie Victor Scott II has started most often at center during Siani鈥檚 absence, and Marmol outlined Sunday how there鈥檚 room for both left-handed-hitting, speedy outfielders on the roster. Scott would be the classic pinch-run specialist from the expanded roster with the added dash of being part of the good-hands outfield for late-inning defense. If the Cardinals decide they鈥檇 like Scott to start every day in center, a return to Class AAA Memphis and adjustment to the big league roster will also be discussed.
鈥淚 think Vic has made some real improvements offensively, and then he鈥檚 continuing to get better defensively with his first step and routes and just overall outfield play,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 giving you a very competitive at-bat, and that鈥檚 been an improvement.鈥
The golden fine print
The oblique injury that cost Siani a month also likely took him out of the running for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in center field. Siani is running 10 innings shy of the minimum required to be considered for top defensive honor in the majors. To be eligible, a fielder (not pitcher or catcher) must have 698 innings on defense in his team鈥檚 first 138 games. At the time of the injury on Aug. 3, Siani had 688 innings in the Cardinals鈥 first 118 games and he's not guaranteed to return until the 138th game.
Siani spent most of the season among the leaders for defensive runs saved (DRS) at center field, according to Sports Info Solution, and he would have had a bid for the golden honor.
Washington鈥檚 Jacob Young and Pittsburgh鈥檚 Michael A. Taylor lead all National League center fielders with plus-13 DRS. Right behind them, tied for the second-most in the league, are Milwaukee鈥檚 Blake Perkins and Siani, with a plus-10 DRS. Perkins is one of three Brewers who have a strong DRS claim to a Gold Glove Award at their position.
The Cardinal player who leads his position in DRS remains Masyn Winn, a leading candidate to win the Gold Glove at shortstop in his rookie season. His plus-15 DRS bests the next-closest NL shortstop, Colorado鈥檚 Ezequiel Tovar, by plus-5 DRS. To Winn鈥檚 right, Nolan Arenado has made a charge into the third base conversation by being among the league leaders in DRS at any position for the month of August with a plus-7 DRS.
Lynn鈥檚 rehab start, etc.
Lynn struck out eight Sunday afternoon in his rehab start for Class AAA Memphis in Iowa against the Cubs鈥 top affiliate. The veteran right-hander鈥檚 goal was to reach 85 pitches and be ready for his next outing to be in the majors. Lynn allowed five runs 鈥 all of them in the second inning 鈥 and walked two with seven hits allowed. He threw 80 pitches to complete 3鈪 innings.
- Miles Mikolas鈥 error Sunday was his first since 2018. He was the only active pitcher without an error in at least his previous 100 fielding chances.
- The Cardinals are 11-7 in rubber games to decide a series winner.
- The Cardinals are 20-7 against American League East teams with Marmol as manager since 2022.