The St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching staff has managed well this season despite dealing with injuries to several key pitchers.
One significant challenge has been missing left-handed pitcher Steven Matz for most of the season due to a lower back strain. However, he made his return on Sunday and is expected to provide a boost to the rotation as the team heads into the final stretch of 2024.
In contrast, another Cardinals pitcher is struggling to regain his form during his rehab assignment.
According to MLB.com’s John Denton, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol mentioned that the team is still considering their next steps with right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn. Lynn had a rough rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, giving up 7 hits, 5 earned runs, and 2 walks in 3.2 innings. The team doesn’t need to make a final decision on him until next week. With Matz back, the Cardinals now have six starting pitchers.
Lynn has been sidelined with right knee inflammation since late July, and his return has taken longer than anticipated. With only 24 games remaining this season, Lynn faces a tight timeline to prove himself. If he struggles at Triple-A, it might not make sense to bring him back to the major league rotation, especially with six active starters already in place.
The 37-year-old pitcher has a club option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout, so it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals decide to re-sign him in the offseason. He could be a valuable back-end option, but the team might consider bringing in a younger, healthier pitcher instead.
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