The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers are overhauling their roster with multiple moves as Tuesday’s trade deadline nears.
Meanwhile, they are playing a three-game series that continues Tuesday, with the host Cardinals starting Lance Lynn (5-4, 4.17 ERA) and the Rangers countering with fellow right-hander Max Scherzer (2-3, 3.57).
The Rangers won 6-3 on Monday night to snap a three-game losing streak. The Cardinals have lost 10 of their last 16 games.
Scherzer is coming off one of his strongest efforts of the season. In a 2-1 victory Thursday over the Chicago White Sox, he allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out nine.
He is 5-6 with a 2.50 ERA in 15 career starts against his hometown Cardinals.
After Lynn allowed the Nationals to score 11 runs (10 earned) on nine hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings in a loss at Washington on July 6, he yielded just two runs on nine hits in 11 innings over his last two starts.
Lynn is 0-1 with a 1.74 ERA in two career starts against the Rangers.
The Rangers acquired catcher Carson Kelly from the Detroit Tigers for two prospects to add more offensive punch to their bench.
“He brings experience and he does a great job behind the plate,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s been doing a nice job throwing out runners, I think 30 percent. He’s having a good year offensively with nine home runs, so he’ll help provide some offense, too.”
Texas also added left-handed pitching prospect Walter Pennington, who will report to Triple-A Round Rock, in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
The Rangers activated infielder Josh Jung (wrist surgery) and left-handed reliever Cody Bradford (back strain, broken rib) from the 60-day injured list on Monday. Jung could return to the starting lineup on Tuesday.
“Trying to give the team a boost the best I can,” Jung said. “Come back in whatever role I can play and just be me. Hopefully, bring some life back to the offense.”
Texas placed pitcher Jon Gray (right groin strain) on the 15-day injured list Monday and promoted infielder Ezequiel Duran and pitcher Gerson Garabito from Round Rock. The Rangers demoted catcher Andrew Knizner and infielders Justin Foscue and Jonathan Ornelas.
The Cardinals made a three-way trade with the White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, adding starter pitcher Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham while subtracting infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman and a pitching prospect.
“The one thing we like about Tommy (Pham) is he is uber-competitive,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told Bally Sports Midwest. “He wants to win. And as you enter August and September, those dog days of the summer, you want somebody who thinks like that.”
The Cardinals continued exploring trades for relievers while taking inquiries on reliever Giovanny Gallegos, who has been designated for assignment, and outfielder Dylan Carlson, who could be displaced by Pham.
But adding Fedde and Pham filled the Cardinals’ biggest needs.
“Now it’s just go out and play,” Mozeliak said. “We certainly believe in this team. We’re very optimistic about what August and September will look like and that’s what we want to trust.”
–Field Level Media
