Kim off IL, inserted into bullpen

ST. LOUIS -- With an eye towards immediate need, newfound abundance and current outlook, the Cardinals activated left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim off the injured list prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates, but are slotting him as a bullpen arm rather than back into the rotation.

Manager Mike Shildt said that Kim likely would have required another Minor League rehab stint if he wanted to build himself up enough to be a starter once again, but complicating such a move is that St. Louis possesses -- for the first time this season -- five healthy bona fide Major League starters.

That’s seldom been the case this season, but with Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas fully returned from injury, as well as the pair of Trade Deadline acquisitions entrenched in the fold, Kim’s spot in the rotation was compromised. The fact that he’s battling back from left elbow inflammation, only built up to a max of three innings, simply made the rotation squeeze a more straightforward decision, though one that came alongside a tough conversation with Kim.

“He’d like to start, prefer to start. I mean, people that are used to starting and used to certain roles want to keep the roles. That’s the competitor in him, and he was honest about that, which I appreciated,” Shildt said. “But I also very much appreciated the fact that he’s a team guy. He was like whatever the team needs.”

Junior Fernández was optioned to Triple-A Memphis as a corresponding move.

The move marks Kim’s first time back into the bullpen since July 2020, when he earned a save in his MLB debut. Since then, Kim, who’s in the final year of his two-year contract, has started each game -- often effective, with a 2.84 career ERA -- but infrequently with a plethora of innings.

Kim has pitched at least six frames just five times this season -- at times due to caution because of his several injuries this season -- but also due to inefficiency. He’s faced an opponent for the third time through the order in just 17 of his 26 career starts, partly in a way for the club to shield him from getting hit around.

But he’s been dynamite early against his opponents, with a .542 OPS against the first time through. Now the club hopes it’s a trait that carries him in the bullpen -- even if Kim feels he’s healthy enough to start.

“I’ll have to do my best out of the bullpen,” said Kim through interpreter Craig Choi. “ … I think with my body fitness, I could start as a starter.”

Granted, the starter Kim lost his rotation spot to -- 16-year veteran Jon Lester -- hasn’t completed six innings since being acquired at the Trade Deadline and owns a 7.08 ERA in four starts since.

A lineup first
Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have varied where they hit in the lineup this season, either second and third or third and fourth. But never have they been split up from hitting in succession.

Until Sunday.

Shildt inserted Tyler O’Neill between the pair into the No. 3 spot for Sunday’s series finale, plugging what’s been a hot bat in between Goldschmidt batting second and Arenado at cleanup. It was done to try to spark something, given the club scoring just four runs on 20 hits through the first two games against Pittsburgh and having already been shut out twice this week. But it also returned Arenado to a spot of comfort.

“O’Neill's been really good and [we] just want to take a look at it, see what it feels like,” Shildt said. “Nolan’s productive anywhere. … but he's always been historically a little more productive in the fourth spot. He’s an RBI guy, he wants people on in front of him, so we created more opportunity for that to happen and see what it looks like.”

The Cardinals’ lineup has been one bat short this week without Dylan Carlson, whose absence has been palpable. Tommy Edman, though, may be playing his way into a more permanent leadoff spot for when Carlson returns, possibly by Tuesday.