The St. Louis Cardinals lost another arm on Monday.
The St. Louis Cardinals announced that right-handed pitcher has been placed on the injured list due to a right elbow injury. To fill his spot on the roster, the club recalled fellow right-hander Gordon Graceffo to the major league team.
“RHP Gordon Graceffo has been recalled from Memphis (AAA),” the Cardinals announced. “RHP Max Rajcic has been placed on the 15-day IL (right elbow), retroactive to July 4.”
“RHP Gordon Graceffo has been recalled from Memphis (AAA),” the Cardinals announced. “RHP Max Rajcic has been placed on the 15-day IL (right elbow), retroactive to July 4.”
As of writing, the Cardinals haven’t announced an official diagnosis for Rajcic. After the Cardinals announced Rajcic to the Injured List, St. Louis manager Oli Marmol shared that he has elbow soreness and is going out for a second opinion. Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reported the news on X.
The Cardinals Are Waiting For Answers About Max Rajcic
“Marmol said Max Rajcic had some elbow soreness after his outing on Friday and wasn’t available after that. Cardinals are sending him for a second opinion, so TBD on a diagnosis,” Jones wrote.
Right-handed pitcher Max Rajcic heads to the injured list after making six appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals this season, posting a 5.00 ERA. His most recent outing came on July 3 before the club determined he was dealing with a right elbow issue.
While Rajcic’s absence is a setback, the Cardinals receive a boost with the return of right-hander Gordon Graceffo, who has been recalled to the major league roster. Graceffo’s earlier demotion caught many by surprise, considering he has been one of St. Louis’ most dependable bullpen arms throughout the 2026 campaign.
The 25-year-old has appeared in 35 games this season, recording a solid 3.35 ERA while providing consistent relief innings. Among Cardinals relievers with at least 30 appearances, Graceffo owns the second-best ERA on the team, trailing only George Soriano, who has posted a 3.29 ERA across 39 outings.
Given his production, Graceffo has made a strong case to remain on the major league roster, and his return should help stabilize the bullpen during a critical stretch of the season.
The Cardinals are still awaiting additional medical evaluations to determine the severity of Rajcic’s elbow injury. Although he has been placed on the injured list, the organization is hopeful he will only require the minimum 15-day stint before returning to action. A clearer timetable is expected once he receives a second medical opinion.
St. Louis begins what could be its most important series of the season on Monday with a five-game showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers. The matchup carries major postseason implications, as the Brewers currently own the second-best record in the National League behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Brewers series comes during a demanding 14-game stretch that has seen the Cardinals face the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Brewers in succession. St. Louis managed to win two of three games against both the Braves and Cubs before turning its attention to Milwaukee. After the Brewers series, the Cardinals will wrap up the challenging run with another meeting against Atlanta.
Rajcic will miss at least the upcoming series against the Brewers and the following set against the Braves, leaving the Cardinals to rely on Graceffo and the rest of the bullpen as they attempt to remain firmly in the National League playoff race.
