The St. Louis Cardinals have officially promoted RHP Michael Wacha from Triple-A Memphis and will start Thursday night against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium. Wacha, out of Texas A&M University is the Cardinals' top pitching prospect and the 1st round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Wacha had an outstanding career at Texas A&M as he posted a 9-4 record with a 2.29 ERA in his sophomore year (Aggie Athletics site). Wacha also threw two complete games in 19 starts and was named third team All-American by Baseball America during his sophomore year. Wacha's success has continued this year with the Memphis Redbirds as he has posted a 4-0 record with a 2.05 ERA, striking out 34 and walking only 15 batters.
The Cardinals' decision to promote Michael Wacha is due to their injury problems in the starting pitching rotation. Jaime Garcia (5-2, 3.58 ERA) will miss the rest of this season with season ending surgery to repair a small tear in his left labrum. Jake Westbrook (2-1, 1.62 ERA) is currently on the 15-Day DL with an elbow injury. John Gast (2-0, 5.11 ERA) made two Major League debuts this season but is on the 15-Day DL with a shoulder injury as he left Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers early in the Bottom of the 2nd inning. Rookie pitcher Tyler Lyons filled in for Jaime Garcia as he had an outstanding Major League debut last week in a 5-3 win against the San Diego Padres. Lyons is set to start tonight against the Royals in Kansas City. Despite all the injuries to the starting rotation, the Cardinals have the best record in baseball at 33-17 and lead all of Major League Baseball with a 3.11 ERA.
Michael Wacha's start on Thursday night will be the sixth pitcher to be promoted from the Minors since April 29th as he joins Seth Maness, Carlos Martinez, John Gast, Tyler Lyons, and Michael Blazek. Wacha was scratched from Sunday's and Monday's start in Triple-A Memphis.
Cardinals fans are excited about Wacha, and rightfully so as his much anticipated Major League debut will be Thursday night against their I-70 interleague rival against the Royals. The Cardinals and Royals will end a four game series on Thursday, as they play two games in Kansas City Monday and Tuesday, and two games in St. Louis Wednesday and Thursday.
The Cardinals' decision to promote Michael Wacha is due to their injury problems in the starting pitching rotation. Jaime Garcia (5-2, 3.58 ERA) will miss the rest of this season with season ending surgery to repair a small tear in his left labrum. Jake Westbrook (2-1, 1.62 ERA) is currently on the 15-Day DL with an elbow injury. John Gast (2-0, 5.11 ERA) made two Major League debuts this season but is on the 15-Day DL with a shoulder injury as he left Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers early in the Bottom of the 2nd inning. Rookie pitcher Tyler Lyons filled in for Jaime Garcia as he had an outstanding Major League debut last week in a 5-3 win against the San Diego Padres. Lyons is set to start tonight against the Royals in Kansas City. Despite all the injuries to the starting rotation, the Cardinals have the best record in baseball at 33-17 and lead all of Major League Baseball with a 3.11 ERA.
Michael Wacha's start on Thursday night will be the sixth pitcher to be promoted from the Minors since April 29th as he joins Seth Maness, Carlos Martinez, John Gast, Tyler Lyons, and Michael Blazek. Wacha was scratched from Sunday's and Monday's start in Triple-A Memphis.
Cardinals fans are excited about Wacha, and rightfully so as his much anticipated Major League debut will be Thursday night against their I-70 interleague rival against the Royals. The Cardinals and Royals will end a four game series on Thursday, as they play two games in Kansas City Monday and Tuesday, and two games in St. Louis Wednesday and Thursday.