St. Louis Cardinals: Jordan Walden Won’t Make Opening Day Roster

The St. Louis Cardinals setup man didn’t feel right after his appearance today and will be sent to doctors for tests.

Welp, St. Louis Cardinals fans — hold on tight. There was some bad breaking news this afternoon after the Cardinals 3-0 win against the Miami Marlins.

Reliever Jordan Walden is reportedly headed to doctors for tests after not feeling right after his appearance in today’s spring training game.

Walden came in to pitch in the sixth inning to relieve starter Michael Wacha. By all accounts, the right-hander looked solid in his one inning of work where he struck out one and gave up no hits, walks or runs. But after the outing Walden said he didn’t feel right.

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Last Saturday Walden was scheduled to appear in a game but was held out with reported shoulder soreness. Add in this recent development, and the situation looks more grim for the 28-year old.

Walden was primed to be the Cardinals setup man after missing almost all of 2015 with a right biceps injury. He was reportedly back to full health heading into spring training this year, but this last week has told a different story.

The bad news broke on Twitter by reporters Derrick Goold and Jenifer Langosch.

Cardinals’ general manager John Mozeliak took the necessary precautions during the offseason by signing Korean closer Seung-Hwan Oh and resigning former closer Jonathan Broxton. So, the Cardinals bullpen, which was great last year without Walden, should still be pretty strong even if he hits the shelf again in 2016.

Still, it is far from ideal. Walden was supposed to be a crucial piece of the Shelby Miller trade to Atlanta. Now, with Jason Heyward lost to the Chicago Cubs and Walden possibly injured once again, that trade looks worse and worse every day.

There’s nothing like the potential loss of a key bullpen piece to put a damper on Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates being just four days away. We will see how the test results play out.

Next: Cardinals vs. Pirates: Opening Day Preview

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