The St. Louis Cardinals shuffled their pitching staff between games of Thursday’s doubleheader, promoting left-hander Jared Shuster to the active roster while designating fellow southpaw.
Top veteran had only been added to the roster earlier in the day as the Cardinals looked to ease the workload on starters Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante. According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, the club used Zimmermann as its bulk reliever in the opener after Hunter Dobbins was slated to start the second game. Zimmermann turned in a respectable performance, giving up three earned runs over five innings, but St. Louis fell 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Despite the solid outing, Zimmermann’s stay on the major league roster appears to have been temporary from the outset. Because he is out of minor league options, the Cardinals couldn’t simply send him back to Triple-A, leaving a designation for assignment as the only path. He is now expected to pass through waivers in the coming days.
The 30-year-old earned his opportunity after signing a minor league contract during the offseason and putting together an impressive campaign at Triple-A. Across 15 starts, Zimmermann posted a 3.78 ERA over 78 2/3 innings while recording an above-average 25.7% strikeout rate, a strong 6.4% walk rate, and a 42.9% ground-ball rate.
Those numbers could make him an appealing option for teams searching for pitching depth, particularly with injuries continuing to impact rotations around the league. Although Zimmermann’s fastball averages under 90 mph, he relies on a diverse six-pitch arsenal to keep hitters off balance. In 164 1/3 career major league innings, he owns a 5.64 ERA with a 17.5% strikeout rate, a 5.2% walk rate, and a 41.9% ground-ball rate.
Shuster, meanwhile, gives the Cardinals a fresh arm for the second game of the doubleheader. The 27-year-old signed a minor league deal with St. Louis before the season and has now been promoted to the major league roster for the third time in 2025. During each of his previous stints, he made two appearances before being designated for assignment due to his lack of remaining options. Both times, he cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Triple-A.
In limited major league action this season, Shuster has been effective, surrendering just two earned runs across 7 2/3 innings. However, his broader track record has been far less encouraging. Over four big league seasons, he owns a 5.12 ERA in 149 1/3 innings, accompanied by a 15% strikeout rate, a 10.1% walk rate, and a 37% ground-ball rate.
His Triple-A performance this year has also been rocky. Shuster has compiled an 8.78 ERA in 27 2/3 innings, though some of that damage has been attributed to poor luck. Even so, his 6.99 FIP suggests his underlying numbers have not been significantly better.
Shuster’s latest return to the roster could be another short-lived stint. Since he is out of options, the Cardinals may once again designate him for assignment once the doubleheader concludes. Reports have indicated that St. Louis intends to add Luis Gastelum to the roster later this week, making Shuster a likely candidate to be removed as the club continues cycling through fresh bullpen arms.