After taxing victory, Cardinals welcome Stanek back to bullpen

CHICAGO -- After navigating an injury-shortened start and leaning heavily on the bullpen in Thursday's 11-5 comeback win over the Braves, the Cardinals got a fresh arm back Friday.

The club reinstated right-hander Ryne Stanek from the paternity list ahead of its series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. To clear a roster spot, right-hander Gordon Graceffo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

Stanek missed St. Louis' three-game series in Atlanta while welcoming a new baby to his family. His return comes at an opportune time after the Cardinals were forced to use seven pitchers in Thursday's victory following starter Dustin May's first-inning exit with a right ankle contusion.

Manager Oliver Marmol acknowledged after Thursday's game that the bullpen was managed with Stanek's impending return in mind.

"The way we used the ‘pen yesterday was with today in mind," Marmol said. "It was awesome when you get to win that game in the process."

Graceffo was the odd man out despite posting a 3.35 ERA over 35 appearances this season. The 25-year-old tossed a scoreless sixth inning Thursday against Atlanta and has provided valuable length out of the bullpen, though the roster move appears to be more about timing than performance with Stanek's return creating a numbers crunch.

With Stanek back in the fold, the Cardinals enter their weekend rivalry series with a fully-rested late-inning option after weathering a taxing series in Atlanta.