MILWAUKEE -- Fresh off a standout spring that helped him outlast four other pitchers vying for the Cardinals’ final rotation spot, Dakota Hudson is poised to make his first Major League start on Saturday against the Brewers. He’ll bring to the mound the sort of strengths that could be a kryptonite to Milwaukee's slugging offense, too.

Hudson, who debuted as a reliever last season, posted the fifth-best ground-ball percentage (63.3 percent) among Major League relievers in the second half. He was also one of five pitchers to face at least 110 batters and not allow a home run in 2018.

Keeping the ball on the ground can be especially key in Miller Park, as was reinforced during an Opening Day game that saw all nine runs scored via home runs. The Brewers also returned the nucleus of an offense that blasted 218 homers last season. That was the fourth-highest total in MLB.

“We appreciate a guy who can keep it on the ground and engage our infield defense,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “It’s maybe more important in this ballpark with the way the ball carries out of here. I can see the point about it being maybe a little extra significance in this ballpark.”

In Hudson, though, they’ll find a pitcher with a more expansive repertoire than the one he leaned on as a reliever last year. Hudson showcased a four-pitch mix in Spring Training, which he closed with 12 straight scoreless innings.

“You see the majority of the good starters in the big leagues, they have three solid pitches,” said Hudson, who didn’t surrender a run in three relief appearances against Milwaukee last season. “I feel like I’ve been able to show to myself and to my team that I can throw three to four pitches for strikes on any given day. I just feel like it’s going to be mix-and-match and a chess match out there. I’ll just try to execute and be as calm as I can with my stuff and see what I can do.”

Gyorko to return for home opener
During a run of text exchanges with Shildt on Friday, Jedd Gyorko declared himself healthy and ready to return from a right calf injury that sidelined him for the final three weeks of Spring Training games. Unfortunately, the calendar doesn’t agree.

Because he isn’t yet eligible to come off the injured list, Gyorko will remain in Florida for a few more days before joining the club in Pittsburgh next week. Barring any setbacks, the Cardinals plan to activate Gyorko next Thursday, ahead of the home opener at Busch Stadium.

Since the team departed Florida on Sunday, Gyorko has been getting at-bats in Minor League games. He has also logged time at multiple infield positions.

Worth noting
• Carlos Martínez (right shoulder cuff strain) has been playing “more aggressive, longer catch” on flat ground this week, according to Shildt. Martinez’s next step will be to resume throwing off the mound. The decision about whether to build Martinez up as a starter or reliever will likely be made in mid-April.

• The biggest bit of news at Miller Park on Friday came on the home side, as the Brewers announced that reliever Corey Knebel will miss the entire 2019 season. Knebel, a key piece in Milwaukee’s vaunted bullpen, elected to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a damaged ligament in his elbow.

• Beginning with his start on Friday, Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty is donating $27.48 per strikeout this year to “Strikeouts for Water,” a campaign he started to provide clean water for a village in the Dominican Republic. That dollar amount represents the total it takes to get clean water to one person. Fans can join Flaherty in this effort by making pledges at https://pledgeit.org/strikeoutsforwater.