ST. LOUIS -- Though his season numbers don’t quite match up to others’ in the Triple-A Memphis rotation, it will be left-hander Genesis Cabrera who gets the first opportunity to fill Michael Wacha’s vacated rotation spot.

Consider the selection a product of recency bias.

Though he has a 6.35 ERA over nine Triple-A appearances (seven starts), Cabrera, 22, drew rave reviews from the field staff and player development group following his last two starts. He allowed two earned runs over six innings in both and made a particular impression with his ability to maintain elite velocity deep into those games.

According to Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, Cabrera is registering an average fastball velocity of 96 mph and touching as high as 98 mph on the radar gun. He’s also throwing his curveball with more conviction.

“Just the reports we’ve gotten from Memphis have been very positive,” Shildt said. “It was a strong recommendation, and we followed it.”

Cabrera, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as the organization’s No. 8 prospect, will make his Major League debut on Wednesday in the Cardinals’ second of three games in Philadelphia. Assuming there are no other debuts before then, Cabrera will earn the distinction of becoming the franchise’s 2,000th player with that appearance.

In choosing Cabrera over other candidates -- most notably right-handers Daniel Ponce de Leon and Jake Woodford -- the Cardinals will be adding a lefty into their rotation for the first time this year.

“We’re obviously righty-dominant, so there’s definitely an appeal there,” Shildt said. “I don’t feel like we have to force it, but it is nice to have a lefty to give us a different look."

The assignment, Shildt added, is for “one start and possibly more.” Because the Cardinals don’t expect to plug Wacha back into the rotation anytime soon, that spot is there for the taking. But it’s also worth noting that the club should have two more stating candidates available soon with Austin Gomber and Alex Reyes on the mend.

Cabrera was one of three players the Cardinals acquired from Tampa Bay in last summer’s Tommy Pham trade. A starter throughout his climb in the Rays’ system, Cabrera moved into the bullpen for Memphis’ postseason run and then continued to pitch in relief during a winter ball stint in which he struck out 21 over 14 2/3 innings. That’s when the organization saw his velocity spike.

The high radar gun readings left many anticipating that Cabrera would break into the big leagues this year as a reliever. But after he struggled in Grapefruit League play and endured two rough outings out of the ‘pen to open the Triple-A season, the Cardinals shifted Cabrera back into a starting role.

Things have settled for him since, and Cabrera has finished six innings in each of his last three starts.

Cabrera will join the team in Philadelphia on Tuesday and will be added to the 25- and 40-man rosters the following day. The Cardinals already have space on the latter, and they’re expected to remove a position player to create the necessary room for Cabrera to go on the active roster. That will allow the Cards to continue carrying 13 pitchers.

Before Sunday’s series finale, Shildt also revealed the rest of his rotation plans for the next week. Adam Wainwright will start Tuesday’s series opener, and Dakota Hudson will pitch on regular rest against the Phillies on Thursday. That sets Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty and Wainwright up to start against the Cubs in a home series next weekend.

Monday’s off-day afforded the Cardinals the opportunity to tweak that order ahead of Chicago’s first season visit to St. Louis.