Gyorko's IL stay to be extended by calf setback
ST. LOUIS -- Jedd Gyorko’s return from the injured list, which was expected to come on Tuesday, has been delayed by an injury that cropped up as the utility infielder was going through what he had hoped were to be his final rehab tests.
Instead, Gyorko, sidelined by a lower back strain, felt his left calf tighten as he was running the bases on Monday. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said the setback could require Gyorko to remain on the 10-day injured list for up to another week. That means that Rangel Ravelo and Tommy Edman -- one of whom was likely to be sent back to the Minors had Gyorko been activated on Tuesday -- will both remain with the club until at least Thursday, which is when Yairo Munoz will return from paternity leave.
As for Gyorko, the run of lower body injuries continues to be a concern. This marks the second time this year that Gyorko has been bothered by a calf issue. He’s landed on the injured list four times over the last two years because of ailments related to his calf, hamstring or groin.
“He’s frustrated, as we all are,” Shildt said. “I know the medical team has been diligent about being proactive, and I know Jedd has been diligent. Jedd has changed his body composition over the last couple of years to give himself the best chance to be able to come to the field as consistently as possible.
“[We] just haven’t had that ability to find whatever it is that’s going to allow him to stay on the field for a longer period of time without having some kind of lower-half setback. So we just have to keep figuring it out and communicating and thinking about it. I have to look at it as well -- what I can do better to help.”
Wainwright, Wacha get next assignments
Shildt confirmed that Adam Wainwright “is in heavy, heavy, heavy pencil” to come off the injured list to start Thursday’s series finale against the Marlins. That sets Michael Wacha up to start against the Angels in Albert Pujols’ much-anticipated return to Busch Stadium on Friday.
It was Wacha, of course, who the Cardinals selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, a pick they received as compensation for Pujols’ departure. The two have never faced each other.
Wainwright’s return to the rotation will come following a 10-day layoff in which he healed a left hamstring strain. On Monday, the Cardinals tested the right-hander's health with a bullpen session and agility work. On Tuesday, Wainwright engaged in fielding activities that included him coming off the mound to field balls down both lines. He was slated to take batting practice later in the afternoon and run the bases on Wednesday.
Worth noting
• Alex Reyes was battered for six earned runs on 10 hits and three walks in Triple-A Memphis’ 12-1 loss to Las Vegas on Thursday. Reyes, who threw 95 pitches (59 strikes) over five innings, struck out nine.
• MLB.com’s Jim Callis confirmed that the Cardinals went above slot to sign their 16th- and 22nd-round picks, Thomas Hart and Zade Richardson, respectively. Both agreed to signing bonuses of $200,000, $75,000 of which will count against the Cardinals’ pool of bonus money.