Cards recall lefty Freeman to beef up bullpen

The Cardinals on Thursday recalled left-hander Sam Freeman from Triple-A Memphis in preparation for the team's seven-game road trip that begins Friday night in Pittsburgh. St. Louis also optioned right-hander Michael Wacha to Double-A Springfield and right-hander Michael Blazek to Memphis.

Freeman has appeared in four games for the Cardinals this season, striking out five batters in four scoreless innings. He has gone 7-2 with a 2.97 ERA and two saves in 49 games (69 2/3 innings) for Memphis. The 26-year-old southpaw has limited lefty hitters to a .237 batting average in Triple-A, while righties are hitting only .207.

Wacha threw four shutout innings of relief against the Reds on Wednesday, striking out seven. The 22-year-old rookie is 2-0 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 games (four starts) for the Cards this season, striking out 37 hitters in 33 1/3 innings of work.

Blazek also threw against the Reds on Wednesday night, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He has struck out 10 batters in 11 big league relief appearances this season.