Rookie Michael McGreevy earned this opportunity with his last start. Now it's time to seize that opportunity and cement himself in the Cardinals' starting rotation.
McGreevy and the Cardinals wrap up a fiery four-game home series vs. the Padres with Sunday's 1:15 p.m. start at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals have won two of the first three after Saturday's 3-1 defeat, the second straight game in which the benches cleared.
In allowing just one earned run in seven innings last time out, McGreevy's outing was the best by a Cardinals starter in three weeks. What's more, he did it in Colorado's Coors Field, one of the most hitter-friendly venues.
After that start, the team cleared a spot for McGreevy in the rotation by designating struggling veteran Erick Fedde for assignment.
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The right-hander McGreevy (2-1, 3.49 ERA) has allowed no more than one run in three of his five big-league starts.
Last time out, he threw his four-seamer a season-high 33% of the time while utilizing the sweeper a season-low 15.4%. That four-seamer has been McGreevy's most valuable pitch. Batters are hitting .188 against it, though the .295 expected batting average is something to keep an eye on.
McGreevy's fastball run value of 3.9 per 100 pitches thrown is second-best in baseball.
San Diego ranks below average offensively as a team vs. the four-seamer.
In seven career major league starts across two seasons, McGreevy is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
Cardinals starters, after putting up a 7.90 ERA in a 19-game span from late June through Thursday, have recorded solid starts in the last two games.
The Padres will start right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-5, 4.28), a 28-year-old in his second big-league season. He mixes five pitches and is most effective with the cutter.
The Cardinals are 54-52 and trail San Diego by 2 1/2 games for the final wild-card spot. A win Sunday would be just the team's second series victory in its its last seven.
The Padres are 56-49.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Padres
When: 1:15 p.m. Sunday
Where: Busch Stadium in ӣƵ
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Brendan Donovan, 2B
2. Iván Herrera, DH
3. Alec Burleson, LF
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
6. Masyn Winn, SS
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Michael McGreevy, RHP
PADRES
1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
2. Luis Arraez, 1B
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Jackson Merrill, CF
5. Xander Bogaerts, DH
6. Gavin Sheets, LF
7. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Elias Díaz, C
P: Stephen Kolek, RHP
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar, OF (left costochondral sprain): Nootbaar continued taking swings Thursday with hitting off a tee and soft toss. He said he has been able to go through baseball activities and has responded well as he nears a rehab assignment, which could begin as early as next week. Updated July 24
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B (back tightness): Has been making progress and is expected to return before Nootbaar as the soreness in his lower-back subsides. He could also begin a rehab assignment by next week. This is a recurring injury for the young infielder, who also dealt with back soreness in previous seasons. Gorman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday (retroactive to Friday), a day after he scratched from the Cardinals’ starting lineup for their Friday opener in Arizona because of tightness in his back. Before the first half of the season wrapped, Gorman was unavailable from the Cardinals’ bench on July 13 after his “lower back locked up on him,” Marmol said. Updated July 24
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter could begin a throwing program next week, Marmol said. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated July 24
