Cardinals set Wild Card Series roster vs. Phillies
ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals finalized their roster on Friday morning, but not before president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, manager Oliver Marmol and other staffers had some key decisions to make ahead of the best-of-three National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies.
Rookie Nolan Gorman was chosen ahead of fellow coveted left-handed hitter Alec Burleson because of the versatility he gives the team as a middle infielder, his left-handed bat and the power profile he presents. Gorman, one of the Cardinals’ top power prospects, hit 14 home runs, smacked 13 doubles and drove in 35 runs in over 89 games. However, the 22-year-old Gorman slumped badly down the stretch -- he went 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts before being sent to Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 19. Gorman, whose last MLB at-bat came on Sept. 18, was put on the Cardinals’ taxi squad earlier this week to get controlled at-bats against MLB-quality pitchers.
• Postseason ticket information
Rookie speedster Ben DeLuzio made the roster, largely because of the lingering hamstring injury to two-time Gold Glove outfielder Tyler O’Neill. DeLuzio has the ability to track down fly balls in the gap and he features the kind of speed that makes him a candidate to run for Yadier Molina or Albert Pujols late in games. Also, he is far more trusted in the outfield than fellow rookie Juan Yepez, who is on the roster for his slugging potential.
Packy Naughton, a Spring Training signee after he had been waived by the Angels, made the roster as the third left-handed reliever ahead of Génesis Cabrera. The Cardinals had hoped for months that Cabrera could regain the command and velocity that he had early in the season when he was one of the team’s most trusted relievers. When the Cardinals weren’t pleased by Cabrera’s final outing in Triple-A Memphis or what they saw earlier in the week on the taxi squad in Pittsburgh, they opted for Naughton. The gritty southpaw has impressed with his tough mental makeup and he could be on the mound in big spots against star lefties Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
The Cardinals got a major scare earlier in the week when All-Star closer Ryan Helsley jammed the middle finger on his pitching hand while trying to steady himself when he staggered. Helsley was examined by the team’s medical staff on Thursday, and he had no problem gripping the baseball during his bullpen session on workout day. Helsley, who threw the fastest pitch in MLB three times this season, was one of the best relievers in baseball with a 9-1 record, a 1.25 ERA and 19 saves in 23 opportunities.
Here is the Cardinals' complete roster for the Wild Card Series.
PITCHERS (12): RHP Jack Flaherty, RHP Giovanny Gallegos, RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Jordan Hicks, LHP Steven Matz, RHP Miles Mikolas, LHP Jordan Montgomery, LHP Packy Naughton, RHP Andre Pallante, LHP José Quintana, LHP Zack Thompson, RHP Adam Wainwright
CATCHERS (2): Andrew Knizner, Yadier Molina
INFIELDERS (7): Nolan Arenado, Paul DeJong, Brendan Donovan, Tommy Edman, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Gorman, Albert Pujols
OUTFIELDERS (5): Dylan Carlson, Ben DeLuzio, Corey Dickerson, Lars Nootbaar, Juan Yepez