Cardinals Choose Bruce Zimmermann; Max Rajcic To 60-Day IL

The Cardinals introduced Tuesday that they’ve chosen the contract of lefty Bruce Zimmermann from Triple-A Memphis. Reliever Ryan Fernandez has been optioned to Memphis to clear a spot on the lively roster. With the intention to open a 40-man roster spot, the Playing cards positioned righty Max Rajcic on the 60-day injured listing on account of an unspecified proper elbow challenge. Supervisor Oli Marmol mentioned final evening that Rajcic was headed for a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, via Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, who added that there’s “actual concern” of a severe damage for the younger righty. The next 60-day IL placement clearly signifies as a lot.

St. Louis additionally introduced this morning that righty Hunter Dobbins would be the twenty seventh man in at present’s doubleheader. Matt Svanson begins a bullpen recreation within the first contest, with Zimmermann more likely to observe in lengthy aid. Dobbins getting the nod in recreation two. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Submit-Dispatch reports that the Playing cards are getting righty Michael McGreevy an additional day of relaxation with this setup.

Zimmermann, 31, spent the 2025 season within the Brewers group, albeit largely in Triple-A. The previous Orioles southpaw pitched six innings in a giant league spot begin final season however was in any other case in Nashville, the place he totaled 138 innings with a stable 4.11 earned run common. He’s had a equally good yr in Triple-A with the Cardinals, working 78 2/3 frames over 15 begins and logging a 3.78 ERA. He’s thrown extra sliders and splitters than regular with the Cardinals’ Memphis affiliate this season and loved a 25.7% strikeout price that’s fairly a bit greater than final yr’s 18.8% price.

Zimmermann doesn’t have minor league choices, so this could possibly be a one-off stint for him. He’d be unavailable in aid for just a few days if he throws a number of innings at present, and the Brewers may recall Fernandez or one other arm not lengthy after the All-Star break.

Fernandez has a stable 2.70 ERA in a tiny pattern of 13 1/3 innings this season, however he’s pitched back-to-back days and was tagged for 3 runs (two earned) with out recording an out final evening. He wasn’t going to be out there for the subsequent couple days a minimum of, so he’ll be swapped out for a brand new size possibility in Zimmermann.

The Rajcic information is especially powerful for the group. The 24-year-old right-hander had simply been promoted for his large league debut final month. A 2022 sixth-round decide, Rajcic breezed by way of 40 2/3 Triple-A innings this season, logging a 2.88 ERA with a 28.4% strikeout price and eight.6% stroll price. He’s allowed 5 runs on six hits and 6 walks with eight punchouts in innings to start his profession, however it now appears he’ll be sidelined for an prolonged interval.

Second opinions from famend surgeons and imprecise/non-specific IL placements are about as ominous because it will get for hard-throwing younger relievers. Right this moment’s IL transfer means the Cardinals have already acknowledged he’ll miss a minimum of two months. There’ll be pure hypothesis concerning a UCL surgical procedure, which might sideline Rajcic for many or all the 2027 season, however a bone spur/unfastened physique or a flexor muscle pressure may additionally necessitate a prolonged shutdown whereas carrying a less-onerous restoration timetable. Jones famous that Rajcic’s second opinion won’t come till subsequent week, so it could possibly be a while earlier than there’s definitive information on the younger righty’s outlook.