Mautz recalled to give Cardinals fresh bullpen arm; Ferguson DFA'd
This browser does not support the video element.
ST. LOUIS – The Cardinals recalled left-hander Brycen Mautz on Saturday and designated Caleb Ferguson for assignment.
Mautz is expected to piggyback starter Kyle Leahy against the Pirates as the team tries to limit Leahy’s innings, which have already surpassed his career high, while navigating a stretch of extended bullpen use.
“I think when you look at how we've tried to progress him and give him the right amount of touches, back-to-backs, three of four, like check all the boxes,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Mautz. “We wanted to get him here at some point, but we wanted to make sure we checked a lot of those boxes, and it lines up where Leahy's going to be a super short outing today.”
Mautz, 25, made his Major League debut against Milwaukee on May 25. He allowed a pair of runs in three innings in his start against the Brewers.
Mautz was the Cardinals’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025. He is 1-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 31 appearances (16 starts) at Triple-A Memphis this season.
This browser does not support the video element.
His last 15 appearances for the Redbirds have come in relief, which was by design.
“We didn't want to start the progression of being a reliever too soon because then you run into not having a large enough workload to be a starter the following year,” Marmol said. “So, when we decided to do it, it was strategic and being able to do both going into spring.”
Ferguson, a left-hander, was picked up from Cincinnati at the Trade Deadline. He appeared in nine games for the Cardinals and had an 8.64 ERA.