Friday's opener got tarped, which is how we ended up with a split doubleheader and the Reds burning their 27th-man slot on Chase Petty for Game 2. Cincinnati's No. 7 prospect is making his first MLB appearance of the year after going 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 6 Triple-A starts — including one outing earlier this month where he literally bit a blister off his finger and kept pitching. So at minimum, the kid is committed.
Pinnacle has this thing dead even at -105 both ways, which tells you the market isn't sure what to do with a debut arm against a Cardinals lineup that's been competent but not scary. The total sits at 9.5, leaning slightly to the under, and the Reds are favored on the runline at -137 because someone has to be.
Kyle Leahy is the kind of arm that doesn't make headlines until you check the box scores and realize he keeps doing his job. The converted-reliever-turned-starter went a career-high 6 innings against Kansas City last time out (May 16), giving up 1 run on 5 hits in a 4-2 win. He's at 3.94 over 9 starts — not dominant, but the Cardinals will absolutely take that every fifth day, especially with the rotation banged up.
The Reds get Eugenio Suarez back for the doubleheader, which matters more in the lineup card than this paragraph can capture. Cincinnati is hanging around .500 in an NL Central where the Cubs have pulled ahead and the Brewers and Cardinals are tied for second. A split today keeps the Reds in shouting distance; a sweep either way nudges the standings in a real way.
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton RP — Naughton will undergo surgery next month to repair the damaged UCL in his left elbow, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse SP — Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos RP — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson SP — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson RP — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.
- 10-Day-ILNathan Church LF — Church (lower body) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
- 10-Day-ILRamon Urias 3B — Urias (elbow) will begin taking dry swings this week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- 60-Day-ILLars Nootbaar LF — The Cardinals are eyeing June 1 as a target date for Nootbaar's (heels) activation from the 60-day injured list, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns C — no
- Day-To-DayJosh Staumont RP — The Twins reinstated Staumont (calf) from the 15-day injured list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes 3B — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
- 10-Day-ILJose Trevino C — Trevino is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
- 15-Day-ILRhett Lowder SP — Lowder (shoulder) is expected to face hitters early next week, Charlie Goldsmith of of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan RP — Pagan (hamstring) is throwing from his knees in order to keep throwing while not putting stress on his strained hamstring, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCaleb Ferguson RP — Ferguson (oblique) walked one over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene SP — Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session May 26, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Bottom line: Leahy is the known quantity, Petty is the wild card, and a bullpen game in disguise usually means whoever blinks first in the middle innings loses. If Petty's command shows up, this is a coin flip. If it doesn't, the Cardinals have the kind of patient lineup that'll make him pay the 27th-man tax in a hurry.