Wacha under consideration to start Thursday

LOS ANGELES -- General manager John Mozeliak is scheduled to join the Cardinals on Monday in Kansas City, where he will meet with manager Mike Matheny and the coaching staff to determine who will take the now vacant spot in the rotation.

Though Matheny said that "everybody" is being considered, the legitimate list of candidates is dwindling because of how many roster moves the Cardinals have already had to make this month. Whoever the Cardinals call upon will pitch on Thursday, as that would have been John Gast's next turn in the rotation.

Among those being considered is highly-touted right-hander Michael Wacha, who continues to thrive in his first Triple-A season. Wacha is listed to start for Memphis on Monday, though the Cardinals could choose to keep him out of that game if they want to add him to the big league rotation.

Wacha, the Cardinals' top pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, is 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in nine starts this season. He has struck out 34, while walking 15 in his first year in Triple-A. He is currently ranked as the organization's fourth-best prospect according to MLB.com.

If the Cardinals are not ready to push Wacha to the Majors, they could consider Memphis starter Maikel Cleto, who is already on the 40-man roster. Joe Kelly, who threw 62 pitches out of the bullpen for St. Louis on Saturday, has not been ruled out as a fill-in option.