As they enter a pivotal stretch of games against teams with rotations heavy with right-handed pitchers, the Cardinals optioned outfielder Jordan Walker to Class AAA Memphis and recalled Luken Baker on Tuesday ahead of the start of a three-game series at Busch Stadium against the National League Central-leading Brewers.
Walker, 22, had rejoined the Cardinals on Aug. 18 during the club’s road trip to Cincinnati to be used in a platoon role vs. left-handers. He appeared in four games and started in three of those.
But a combination of the Cardinals’ upcoming slate of right-handed opposing pitchers, their fall to 11 games behind the Brewers in the race for the NL Central and five games behind the Braves for NL’s third wild-card spot with 38 games remaining in the regular season, and Matt Carpenter’s return from the injured list would have reduced Walker to a bench role.
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“In a perfect world, I just think he still needs to be playing,†Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said of Walker, the club’s former top prospect. “That’s the most important. And the way I look at Jordan Walker, last offseason he went down and focused on his defense and he came back and he’s played himself into an average defender, if not, maybe he’s done better. I think this offseason he’s going to have to focus on his approach (and) his swing, and we still believe that he’s going to be an enormous talent in this league. But most importantly, I still think he needs to be playing.â€
While in the majors, Walker went 1 for 11 at the plate in his call-up after Carpenter was placed on the IL for a lower back strain on Aug. 12.
Walker, the club’s opening day right fielder in 2023 and 2024, had come off a 16-game stretch with Memphis during which he batted .343 with five home runs, posting a 1.087 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
Although Walker has produced a higher average (.245) and OPS (.719) against righties at the majors and minors combined than he has against lefties (.219 average and .644 OPS), Walker has produced better results vs. lefties than some of the Cardinals’ left-handed-hitting outfielders. Those differences at the plate and his ability to play the outfield filled what the Cardinals looked for as they searched for a spark against left-handers, whom they’ve hit for just a .232 average and a .654 OPS.
“You had guaranteed to face three lefties over seven days when we made the move with Walker, and it allowed you to sit an outfield left-handed hitter and give him (Walker) an opportunity (to start) because three games can be the difference between us going home early or not,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “And you now have a stretch of — I think nine out of 10 are going to be (against) righties, which is much different from an opportunity standpoint.â€
Baker, 27, returns to the majors after spending all this season with Memphis. In 108 games with Memphis, Baker has batted .231 with 32 home runs. He has a .535 slugging percentage. Baker got a taste of the majors a year ago when he appeared in 33 games. He batted .209 and hit two home runs in his first 86 big league at-bats.
He expects to fill a bench role as a backup to starting first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and an option off the bench to face left-handers.
“This stretch is heavy right-handed, so a lot less opportunity outside of coming off the bench, which that’s more what we would count on Luken to do over a young Walker,†Marmol said.
Crawford released
Along with Walker’s demotion, Baker’s call-up, and Carpenter’s activation from the injured list, the Cardinals unconditionally released shortstop Brandon Crawford to clear a roster spot. Crawford, 37, signed with the Cardinals in late February during spring training after he played in 13 seasons with the San Francisco Giants.
“It’s never easy. This is a tough business. ... We really wanted to see him finish the season with us and get through it, but there are a lot of demands on our roster right now,†Mozeliak said.
Crawford, a two-time World Series winner, three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner with the Giants, appeared in 29 games for ºüÀêÊÓƵ. He batted .169 and posted a .545 OPS.
“It was a tough one,†Marmol said. “I have an incredible amount of respect for Crawford, for his career, what he did away from here but also what he brought to the table while he was here. I know many may look at it and go, ‘Well, he wasn’t on the field a whole lot. His average was this. His OPS was that.’ But you’re missing a big part of what makes the team a team, and his steadiness and overall mentality and the way he goes about his business brought a ton to the table.â€
Lynn throws; Matz continues rehab
Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation) simulated three innings and targeted the 45-pitch mark during a session of live batting practice. Lynn faced a lineup of hitters that included Tommy Pham, Carpenter and bench coach Daniel Descalso. Lynn struck out Descalso in at least one of their encounters.
Lynn followed the live batting practice by taking pitcher’s fielding practice. He reportedly felt pain-free. The right-hander is expected to repeat that workload on Monday.
Steven Matz (lower back strain) is scheduled to start a rehab game on Wednesday with Class AAA Memphis. The start would be Matz’s fifth since resuming his rehab at the beginning of August. He is expected to throw around 85-90 pitches.
As Matz and Lynn work towards return and with Andre Pallante currently in the Cardinals rotation, Mozeliak said a six-man rotation could be a possibility for the Cardinals.