Cardinals recall Lyons, option Freeman to Minors

The Cardinals on Saturday recalled left-hander Tyler Lyons from Triple-A Memphis and optioned lefty Sam Freeman back to Triple-A.

Lyons, 25, has gone 2-4 with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts for St. Louis this year and 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 16 starts for Memphis. He brings a fresh arm to an overworked Cardinals bullpen, as he most recently pitched for Memphis on Aug. 10 vs. Reno.

Lyons' most recent outing with the Cardinals came on July 30, when he started the second game of a doubleheader against the Pirates. He suffered the loss in that game, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits over six innings.

Freeman has pitched three of the past four games, including 1 1/3 innings of work in Friday's 7-0 loss to the Cubs. In four relief appearances since Aug. 8, Freeman allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings.