Cards place Wainwright on COVID-19 IL

The Cardinals announced Thursday evening that they had placed right-hander Adam Wainwright on the COVID-19 injured list and left-hander Andrew Miller on the 10-day injured list due to a toe blister on his right foot. The club also activated center fielder Harrison Bader (right forearm) off the IL and called up right-hander Kodi Whitley from its alternate training site.

Wainwright has made five starts this season, his 16th with the Cardinals, and he has a 4.08 ERA. In his last outing on Monday, the 39-year-old tossed nine innings and gave up two runs in a loss to the Phillies. He also turned in a strong performance on April 20 against the Nats, giving up one run on five hits, with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

Miller, 35, has been with the Cardinals since 2019, but he has struggled to regain the form that made him an elite reliever with Cleveland. Thus far in 2021, he owns a 6.43 ERA in 7 1/3 innings (nine games).

Bader will make his season debut after opening the season on the IL due to recurring soreness in his right forearm. Though the 26-year-old has played strong defense in center in his career, the Cardinals are hoping he'll improve on his career .234/.322/.399 slash line in four seasons.

Whitley, 26, has made six relief appearances in his big league career and had a strong Spring Training for St. Louis, striking out 10 and walking three over 7 1/3 scoreless innings.