The St. Louis Cardinals have quietly put together an impressive stretch of baseball since the MLB All-Star break.
This weekend, St. Louis faces the Philadelphia Phillies in a series that carries significant NL Wild Card implications.
However, before the series got underway, the Cardinals received concerning news regarding starting pitcher Andre Pallante, who has emerged as one of the club’s most reliable arms this season.
According to multiple reports, Pallante is headed to the injured list with elbow inflammation.
Quinn Matthews is expected to be recalled and could make one or two spot starts in Pallante’s absence, but there’s no question this is a difficult development for the Cardinals to navigate.
Looking at the bigger picture, St. Louis has been remarkably fortunate when it comes to the health of its starting rotation this season. Whether that is simply good luck or a reflection of something the coaching staff has managed particularly well, the Cardinals have avoided the kind of widespread starting pitching injuries that have impacted many other teams.
RedBirdRants.com’s Josh Jacobs wrote following the announcement of Pallante’s IL placement:
“In a surprise piece of news today, the St. Louis Cardinals have placed right-handed starter Andre Pallante on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Quinn Mathews will start on Saturday, while Ryan Fernandez will replace Pallante’s roster spot for Friday’s game. It is unclear who the Cardinals will make the corresponding move to bring up Mathews this weekend.”
A Look at Andre Pallante’s Season
Pallante has quietly put together a career year for the Cardinals in his fifth season with the organization.
Across 24 starts, he has recorded a 3.57 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 136 innings. His 2.2 pWAR is on pace to be the best mark of his career, while his 24 starts have already set a new personal high. Additionally, his 3.57 ERA would stand as a career best among seasons in which he has thrown at least 130 innings.
The Cardinals have also quietly played some of their best baseball in recent weeks and remain firmly in the NL Wild Card race. Still, with Pallante now sidelined, it remains to be seen how St. Louis will respond to the loss of one of its most dependable starters.