Cards likely to tab Wacha for start vs. Marlins

CHICAGO -- Barring his usage this weekend at Wrigley Field, Michael Wacha is a “heavy pencil” to make the start against the Marlins in Miami on Monday, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said.

Wacha, who was moved to the bullpen late last month, threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief on Tuesday. Considering he had a 5.59 ERA earlier this season as a starter, Wacha's performance was encouraging for the Cardinals. Re-synced mechanics and an uptick in velocity made him look like his past self.

“Good rhythm, his ball is down, little more life to it, his velocity is back and his changeup is there,” Shildt said. “He does that, he’s an elite guy in this league. We’d like to get him back in there and get him going again.”

Should Wacha be used this weekend against the Cubs -- in long-inning relief -- the Cardinals could go two different ways for Monday’s start. Shildt said the Cards are looking at starting Ryan Helsley, who was called up Wednesday to pitch out of the bullpen, and using the 'pen heavily. Daniel Ponce de Leon could also be called up from Triple-A Memphis.

In five appearances (nine innings) for the Cardinals this season, Helsley has a 3.00 ERA. He fanned Kris Bryant with the bases loaded in the seventh inning of Friday's 3-1 loss to the Cubs. In the games he’s started for Memphis, he hasn’t thrown more than four innings.

Ponce de Leon is 4-4 and has a 3.90 ERA in 11 starts (55 1/3 innings) this season with the Redbirds. He made an abbreviated start for Memphis on Thursday night -- three scoreless innings -- to be prepared in case the Cardinals need him Monday.

Ponce de Leon has been in this situation before. He made a spot start for the Cardinals on April 23 when Wacha went on the injured list. In the Cardinals’ 4-3 victory, Ponce de Leon held the Brewers to one run over five innings, and he made the impression that he was ready to contribute in the big leagues.

But the Cardinals' tentative plan is to go with Wacha, and if he performs well enough, he could solidify his spot back in the rotation.

“We have a need right now and felt like he could satisfy,” Shildt said. “We’ll evaluate it, but my hope is he’ll pitch the way he pitched last year, like he’s capable, and he’ll reclaim his spot.”

Carpenter rests shin with day off

After taking six foul balls off of his right shin in four games, third baseman Matt Carpenter was out of the lineup for Friday’s game against the Cubs. He said he hopes play Saturday.

With how many times Carpenter has been hit, Shildt wanted to give him a day off with the hopes of not aggravating it more.

“It’s not fun,” Carpenter said. “It’s really hard for me, like during my last at-bat yesterday, to concentrate. Best way I can describe it is if you’ve had an ingrown toenail and how bad that sensitive to the touch is. My shin feels like that right now. It’s pretty uncomfortable.”

With the shin bruised and swollen, Carpenter is working with trainers to order more protection for the shin, like a soccer shinguard, on top of the guard he already has. The foul balls have been coming on the same pitch -- a breaking ball down in the zone -- but he said the problem isn’t about how he’s getting pitched to.

“I’ve gotten those [pitches] forever, I’m just going through a fluky spell where every time I swing off it, I hit it off the shin,” Carpenter said.