Cardinals need help to bolster rotation

Another starting pitcher is what Cardinals need

I knew there was a reason St. Louis Cardinals fans everywhere cringed when Adam Wainwright was injured.

The thought at the time was Wainwright’s torn Achilles, while definitely painful, could be overcome.

Now I am not so sure.

Actually, what sold it for me was hearing St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz talk about the rotation. He came right out and said St. Louis needs help.

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I agree with him, and here’s why.

The Cardinals jumped off to a spectacular start with Wainwright on the hill. Together with strong efforts from starters like John Lackey, Lance Lynn and Carlos Martinez, it looked like St. Louis would have the best rotation in the National League.

Lackey and Lynn still look strong, but Martinez has hit a wall in recent weeks. Tyler Lyons, a pitcher many thought could temporarily replace Wainwright, had trouble staying on the mound for more than five innings at a time. He was subsequently sent back to Triple-A Memphis for more seasoning.

Add to this the uncertain future of Jaime Garcia, even though he is coming back this week, and of Marco Gonzales, who is scuffling down at Memphis. If Martinez keeps struggling, there is a very real chance he could be sent to the bullpen.

Which brings us back to the need for a new starter.

The two names that come to mind are Cole Hamels and Kyle Lohse. Both will take a strong group of players to pry loose. You may want to say goodbye to someone like Randal Grichuk or Stephen Piscotty or maybe even a couple prospects in the team’s farm system.

Right now, it doesn’t look like general manager John Mozeliak has much of a choice.

Mozeliak has advocated saving for a rainy day.

To paraphrase the old classic song: “It’s funny how baseball can become a cold rainy day. Funny, now that rainy day is here.”

Next: Jaime Garcia to return to St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday

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