ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals turn the page to September this weekend, the final month of the MLB regular season. Sputtering around .500 for much of August, time is running out to push for postseason.
Possibly to the Cardinals’ benefit, however, some reinforcements are on the way.
The Cardinals’ big-league roster will expand from 26 to 28 players on Sunday, Sept. 1. It’s a modest upgrade, but two extra roster spots could certainly help a team still fighting for postseason, albeit with little room for mistakes.
The Cardinals could carry up to 14 pitchers through MLB’s September roster expansion rules, but no more. And anyone they promote to the big-league level must be on the organizational 40-man roster. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.
St. Louis enters the weekend with 13 active pitchers and 13 active position players on the big-league roster. Who may join them come Sunday? Or perhaps at a different time in September if the roster buildup allows?
Here’s a look at some candidates…
Steven Matz
Forgotten for much of the 2024 season, Steven Matz has dealt with several injuries and will likely not reclaim a rotation spot for the rest of this campaign. He’s made six rehab outings for Triple-A Memphis since August and appears to be increasing his workload innings-wise, but to mixed results.
Likeliness for Sept. 1: Probable. Matz has traveled with the Cardinals to New York and could return as soon as Sunday, according to reports from Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.
Michael Siani
A surprise breakout season from Michael Siani hit a setback after an oblique injury in early August. Siani offered stability with his centerfield defense and baserunning during the Cardinals’ strongest stretch of the season from May to July. He began a rehab assignment on Tuesday, and if he can catch up to speed quickly, his skillset could make a difference in closing out Cardinals victories.
Likeliness for Sept. 1: Possible. But not guaranteed. He may need a little more conditioning in his rehab stint.
Jordan Walker
A top prospect last year, Walker has spent much of this year at Triple-A Memphis instead of the big-league levels, partly due to outfield logjams. Walker found his offensive stride before a recent promotion in August, but that was short-lived without much room for playing time. Walker has a hit in five of six games since returning to Memphis on Aug. 22. At some point, the Cardinals will need to see if their 23-year-old outfielder can perform down the stretch and for the long haul. September could be that opportunity.
Likeliness for Sept. 1: Possible. But it may depend if another team claims veteran outfielder Tommy Pham on waivers, which essentially opens a third roster spot and would give Walker an easier opportunity toward big-league action.
Lance Lynn
Lynn’s reunion with the Cardinals has been a bit of a rollercoaster, though when healthy, he’s proven capable of covering innings and getting results against big-time opponents. Lynn landed on the injured list with a knee injury after his latest MLB start on July 30. With St. Louis acquiring Erick Fedde and Andre Pallante making a case to stay in the rotation, Lynn’s path back to a possible rotation spot is a bit unclear. That said, Lynn is a competitor and still pushing to return this season.
Likeliness for Sept. 1: Doubtful. Lynn has a rehab start with Triple-A Memphis scheduled for Sunday. If all goes as planned, he could be ready to activate soon after that.
Nolan Gorman
After prolonged struggles with St. Louis, Gorman was optioned to Memphis on Aug. 23. He appears to be regaining some momentum at the Triple-A level (.292 average, 2 home runs, 5 RBI over six games). As seen in May, the Cardinals could certainly thrive with Gorman hitting at his best abilities. His plate discipline remains a bit of a concern and the Cardinals’ big-league infield is suddenly crowded with utilityman Brendan Donovan getting most of his reps at second base down the stretch.
Likeliness for Sept. 1: Unknown. Gorman would seem to have and advantage over other players based on his experience, but Cardinals haven’t made any clear indications on when of if he could return to the big leagues this season.
Other candidates
The following pitchers have had big-league stints with the St. Louis Cardinals this year. Some could be a September call-up candidate later on, if not on Sept. 1:
Gordon Graceffo
Adam Kloffenstein
Ryan Loutos
Michael McGreevy
Chris Roycroft
Zack Thompson
Veteran catcher Willson Contreras is pushing for a mid-September return, but may be shut down for the season early if the Cardinals rapidly lose ground on their postseason push.
There aren’t many other September call-up candidates unless the Cardinals make a surprise late-season promotion for a minor-league bat, like Thomas Saggese or Cesar Prieto. Those seem unlikely barring a slew of injuries or other unforeseen circumstances.
The Cardinals, 67-67, begin a crucial six-game road trip Friday against two division leaders: The New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers. Less than 30 games remain left in the 2024 regular season.
