After struggling for much of the season, right-hander Miles Mikolas hopes to make the most of his remaining contract year with the St. Louis Cardinals.
That effort will continue Monday night when the Cardinals host the Colorado Rockies to open a three-game series.
Mikolas (6-9, 5.11 ERA) will start after allowing five runs on seven hits — including three homers — while losing his most recent outing, 12-6 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
The two-time All-Star has yielded at least five runs in six of 22 starts this season.
“I want to finish strong,” Mikolas said. “And I want to do my best to be a good example for the young guys. There are some young guys in here who I’ve seen from their rookie years, seen them mature and get better. Hopefully, I’ve left a little bit of an imprint on them. Show the younger guys what it’s like to go about your work — day in, day out, rain or shine.
“I’ll be in here tomorrow working out, busting my tail in the gym, getting my work done with the trainers, watching video, trying to get better.”
Mikolas, who will turn 37 on Aug. 23, is in the final season of a three-year, $55.75 million contract. While helping the retooling Cardinals get to the finish line by eating innings down the stretch, he hopes to build market value for himself as a free agent for next season.
“Bottom line: I want to finish strong and show teams that I’ve still got a lot of good baseball left in me,” he said.
Mikolas is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in eight career appearances against the Rockies, including six starts.
The Cardinals, who have won three of their last four games, adjusted their pitching staff Sunday. They demoted Gordon Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis and activated fellow right-hander Jorge Alcala, who had arrived from the Boston Red Sox on a waiver claim last week.
St. Louis utility player Brendan Donovan is questionable for Monday’s game after missing the last two contests because of groin tightness.
The Rockies, meanwhile, ran their losing streak to seven games by falling 13-6 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Infielder Kyle Karros became the 12th player to make his major league debut with the Rockies this season. Karros, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, is 4-for-11 with two walks, two doubles, two runs and three RBIs in his first three games.
He credited former Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, who was traded to the New York Yankees last month, for mentoring in spring training and helping him reach the big leagues.
“He texted me right after he got traded,” Karros said. “Just to think what he was going through — his life got turned upside down. He’s moving his family to New York City. For him to have the thought to text me — and the text was incredible, super-heartfelt … just an unreal dude. I love that guy. The relationship is going to continue way further down the road.”
MLB.com reported that the Rockies will recall rookie right-hander Chase Dollander (2-9, 6.68 ERA) from Triple-A Albuquerque to start on Monday. This would be his first career appearance against the Cardinals.
–Field Level Media
