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St. Louis Cardinals: Time for a Memphis Check-in

By Dr. Michael D. Miles

Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Harrison Bader is congratulated after the victory over the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Harrison Bader is congratulated after the victory over the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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St. Louis Cardinals
Mar 6, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Deck McGuire (62) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Memphis Pitchers

Rather than examining each name on the pitching roster for Memphis, I think it will be better examine only those who might well impact the St. Louis Cardinals in the near future (or those who should in the near future).  To this end, I would have talked of Sam Tuivailala but he is currently called up to the St. Louis Cardinals.

A name that I have written much about is Deck McGuire.  McGuire is one of Memphis’ pitchers who could see some majors time this year if an injury requires and/or when the rosters expand in September.

McGuire has pitched in seventeen games across 94.2 innings.  He owns a 4.47 ERA and a 6-7 record.  McGuire must work on the number of hits he surrenders (96 currently) to be effective.  This accounts for his WHIP of 1.38 this season.

A player who has received a call-up this season already, Dean Kiekhefer will for sure impact the St. Louis Cardinals this season and into the future.  Kiekhefer, perhaps the best LOOGY option the St. Louis Cardinals own in their repertoire, currently owns a AAA ERA of 1.93 across 23.1 innings pitched.

Another reliever who might well provide impact is Ryan Sherriff.  Sherriff was named to the minor league All-Star team and rightfully so.  He currently owns an ERA of 2.28 across 43.1 innings in AAA.  The St. Louis Cardinals, with their struggling bullpen of late, might well turn to an arm like Sherriff to spell relief.

More from St Louis Cardinals Prospects

A final reliever to watch is Miguel Socolovich who owns a 2.89 ERA across 37.1 innings and thirty-three games.  Soco has made the jump from time to time to the majors and could well be an arm that could come up again.  With the recent struggles at the back end of the pen, Soco could be a good fit here.  His struggles of late have been in surrendering hits which is counter to a productive pen arm.

Of greatest interest to many of us, and another name on the minor league All-Stars, is Alexander Reyes.  Alex Reyes, who returned this season from his second marijuana suspension, has pitched in 41.1 innings across nine games and owns a 4.35 ERA.

His 2-1 record is impressive and I’m sure the St. Louis Cardinals are simply allowing him enough time to build his skills to a level strong enough to contend at the Major League level.  Add to this the fact that the St. Louis Cardinals aim for him to be a starter and the lack of a starter spot currently with the major squad, and you can see why leaving him in Memphis makes a lot of sense.

Next: Mediocrity Continues

While I wish there were options for replacements hiding in wait, I’m just not convinced that we have these options currently.  This is a shame as the St. Louis Cardinals could really use a hot in the arm.  Perhaps this will come via trade, and perhaps some of the names in this slideshow are bait for such a thing.  I guess we wait and see.

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