Cards likely to stand pat despite injuries

August 31st, 2018

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals will add a handful of reinforcements to their roster when the calendar turns to September on Saturday. Those additions are unlikely to include anyone from outside the organization.
As the clock ticked on Friday's 11 p.m. CT deadline for teams to add players in time for them to be eligible for postseason rosters, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said that he "would not anticipate" the team acquiring someone before the end of the day. A few hours after that declaration, speculation about the Cardinals as a suitor for Josh Donaldson officially ended when the Blue Jays dealt the third baseman to the Indians.
"You look at where this club is, how they're playing, we feel pretty good about where we're at," Mozeliak said.
The Cardinals' position in the trade market does not seem to have been significantly altered despite recent injuries to infielders and . Though both players remain sidelined, the Cardinals do not expect extended absences for either. Wong (left hamstring strain) is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list Wednesday. Gyorko (left groin strain) can return as early as Sept. 8.
The Cardinals will add to their depth Saturday by recalling left-hander , catcher and right-hander . Left fielder is also expected off the DL, though he may have some initial limitations.
"He feels good," manager Mike Shildt said of Ozuna, who took batting practice Friday. "He's still working through it. But he's been very optimistic about how he's felt."
As for the three callups from Triple-A Memphis, Poncedeleon will make the most immediate impact, as he's slated to start Saturday. Webb gives the Cardinals a third lefty in the bullpen, while Kelly becomes the team's third catcher behind and .

Unless there were to be another injury, the Cardinals do not plan to make any additional callups until after Memphis' playoff run ends.
Wacha getting back on track
Forced out of his Double-A rehab start early Tuesday due to soreness on his left side, returned to the field to play catch Friday and has a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday. If all goes well with both exercises, he'll resume his rehab assignment with a start in the Minors next week.
"I might have been a little overcompensating for the oblique and tightened up something else," Wacha said of the discomfort he felt during his 52-pitch outing. "I don't think it's anything too serious, just got to keep working at it, getting it back to where it needs to be."
Time is not on Wacha's side, however. The Cardinals had planned to build Wacha up so he could return to the rotation. He may still plug in as a starter, though this setback could limit how deep Wacha will be able to pitch into games.
"It's going to be hard to stretch him out unless Memphis goes really deep [in the playoffs]," Mozeliak said. "I think about September, though, not so much worrying about who the five starters are, just knowing that we have to pitch our best pitchers in a game. So, if that means a starter gives you three and another guy gives you three and another guy gives you three, that's OK."
Rotation reshuffling
The Cardinals confirmed Friday that will slide out of the bullpen to make a spot start Sunday. By doing so, the club builds an extra day of rest in for each of its other five starters. is now in line to pitch Monday's series opener in Washington.
Worth noting
, who went on the DL with right shoulder inflammation Sunday, is expected to resume throwing next week.
• With Kelly set to join the big league team, Andrew Knizner has been promoted to Memphis. The 23-year-old catcher is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cardinals' fifth-best prospect.
• Tim Leveque, the organization's senior pitching coordinator, is spending some time with the Major League club this week. The Cardinals will invite a handful of other Minor League managers and instructors to St. Louis once their respective seasons end.