ST. LOUIS — The team that seemed to have all the starting pitching anyone could want now doesn’t know who will take its start in Colorado Wednesday.
In the wake of general manager John Mozeliak’s post-game announcement Sunday that Jaime Garcia (shoulder) and Michael Wacha (stress reaction in scapula) are headed for the disabled list, St. Louis is now in search mode.
Mozeliak said that Joe Kelly, who will start a rehab assignment Friday night in Memphis, will need at least two minor league starts before returning to the big club. Recently farmed out left-hander Tyler Lyons is a candidate, although an 0-3 record and a 6.12 earned-run average earlier this year can’t inspire a whole lot of confidence there.
Triple-A lefty Tim Cooney might also be a possibility, but does the team really want his first big league start to be in Coors Field? Other internal options are relievers Seth Maness and Nick Greenwood, although Greenwood’s reliance on a breaking ball might not make him ideal in conditions where the ball simply doesn’t break as much.
Another thing for certain is that Carlos Martinez, who’s ached to be a starter all along, is staying in the rotation. He was effective in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Phillies after a rough second inning and will be stretched out to around 90 pitches Friday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But who will join him in the rotation, at least for Wednesday? That’s a question for manager Mike Matheny and Mozeliak to figure out.