Rookie starting pitcher Michael McGreevy has been learning on the fly after replacing veteran Erick Fedde in the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation.
McGreevy (4-2, 4.40 ERA) will continue his education on Wednesday afternoon when the Cardinals host the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a three-game series.
The Cardinals won 3-2 on Monday night, then the Rockies prevailed 3-0 on Tuesday night to snap their eight-game losing streak.
In his most recent start, McGreevy allowed six hits in six innings as the Cardinals blanked the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Friday. He struck out three and walked one during his best outing of the season.
The 25-year-old right-hander made extensive use of his changeup to neutralize the left-handers in Chicago’s lineup.
“Continuing to build off of that is going to be huge,” said McGreevy, who has primarily been a sinkerball pitcher. “Having that be a weapon in my back pocket, like the slider is to righties, is going to be huge for me moving forward.”
McGreevy earned a 6-2 victory over the Rockies on July 21 in Denver. He allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in seven innings.
He only struck out one batter, but he walked none and recorded 12 ground-ball outs in that game. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against the Rockies.
As hitters get repeated looks at McGreevy, he will have to keep adjusting.
“That’s what you’re looking for, how big-league guys are responding to him,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “and then, once he sees them a second time through, if there’s some changes there. We’re excited with this progress, and we’ve got to keep working.”
Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras is questionable for the series finale after sustaining a right foot contusion on Tuesday. After the game, Marmol said X-rays on the foot came back negative.
The Rockies are using their remaining games to continue testing young players such as Kyle Karros, Warming Bernabel, Adael Amador, Jordan Beck, Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman, who hit a two-run homer Tuesday.
“It’s a very positive thing moving forward that these guys are getting opportunities to play and get experience and be a part of our future,” interim Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said.
Karros made a dazzling unassisted double play at third base Monday night.
“He’s making himself known immediately in the big leagues, and I’m happy for him,” Schaeffer said. “But, I mean, I think you’re going to see a lot of that coming up in the future.”
The Rockies will close the series with left-hander Austin Gomber (0-6, 6.52 ERA), who has yet to meet the quality start metric this year. In his latest outing, he tossed a season-best six innings but allowed six runs on five hits, including two homers, and three walks in a 6-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday in Phoenix.
He is winless in 10 starts this year and in 13 straight dating back to last year.
Gomber lost to McGreevy and the Cardinals on July 21 in Denver. He allowed five runs on 11 hits while striking out six and walking none.
In his career against the Cardinals, his original major league team, Gomber is 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA in seven appearances, including five starts.
–Field Level Media
