Cardinals notebook: Struggling left-hander Matthew Liberatore is sent out

Liberatore won’t be here.

He was optioned to Class AAA Memphis on Wednesday, after a shaky relief outing on Tuesday. Right-hander Drew VerHagen, who pitched four innings over three games on a rehab option for Class A Peoria, was activated.

Matz also was on hand Wednesday but was not activated, although all signs point to his starting here against Cincinnati on Sunday, the final day of play before the Cardinals are off four days because of All-Star Game festivities.

Manager Oliver Marmol, addressing Wednesday’s situation before Sunday’s, noted that the bullpen could use some help inasmuch as seven pitchers were called on to dispatch the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 on Tuesday.

“The way we used our (bull)pen, it will be helpful to get an extra arm,”  Marmol said.

VerHagen, who signed a two-year contract in the offseason, was viewed as a starting pitching candidate in spring training but realizes those days are gone for now.

“I’ll be back as a reliever,” said VerHagen, who had a shoulder impingement.

He had one inning of work Wednesday against the Dodgers, allowing two run and two hits while striking out two in the Cardinals' 7-6 loss.

Liberatore said he understood why he was sent out, figuring Matz probably would get Sunday’s start anyway.

But Marmol said, “I like the way Liberatore prepares. He’s asking the right questions. He’s surrounding himself with the right people. I like his process. Now it’s a matter of consistency of execution, understanding where his stuff plays best, how he tries to finish (off) people.”

Liberatore, 2-1 with a 5.33 earned-run average here, said he had felt better about commanding his pitches at the bottom of the strike zone. Mirroring what Marmol would say, Liberatore said he needed to improve on the  “consistency of execution” of his pitches.

“Last night, you saw a couple of guys put really good swings on executed pitches. I don’t expect that to happen every time I go out and execute like that,” he said.

VerHagen has been out some three weeks.

"It (stinks), so I’m happy to be back," he said. 

There was some concern that VerHagen had incurred thoracic outlet syndrome, for which he had surgery in 2016 when he was with Detroit. But he said, “I wasn’t worried about it. The rib is gone. I had the surgery.”

Matz, recovering from his own shoulder impingement, has been out since May 22. He threw 81 pitches in a rehabilitation outing on Tuesday for Memphis in Nashville, which is about 35 minutes from his Tennessee home.

Because of long counts and foul balls, Matz got only 4 1/3 innings out of that many pitches but didn’t allow a run, struck out seven and felt fine afterward. As he unpacked his bag, he said he hoped he wouldn’t be making his next start in Nashville on Sunday when Memphis finishes the six-game series, even it is close to home.

“There’s a possibility he can join us,” said Marmol, who agreed that “probable” would be more likely.

Matz said, “I feel really comfortable after last night about where my stuff was, results as well, (and) how I was feeling. I still felt I had a little bit left in the tank.”

Matz is 3-3 with a 6.03 ERA in nine starts after a couple of rough outings in the spring.

O’Neill still not active 

Left fielder Tyler O’Neill, recovering from a bruised right wrist, still wasn’t back in the Cardinals' lineup.

“He was going to hit (in the batting cage) and let me know how he feels afterward,” said Marmol, “and there’s a possibility he’ll be active (Thursday).”

O’Neill said he would take the advice of the medical people as when he could be cleared to play. There still was some soreness, he said.

“I got struck by a pitch on the bone,” he said. “So it’s going to be pretty painful for a couple of days. But, overall, I’m feeling pretty good. I’m not giving any firm (timelines). Obviously, I want to get in there as soon as possible.”

O’Neill said his left hamstring, which he was rehabbing in the first place, was fine.

The ultimate move to put O’Neill on the roster will be a delicate one because whoever comes off, if it’s an outfielder, has played well lately. Veteran Corey Dickerson had two homers and a double in the past two games before Wednesday and Lars Nootbaar had homered and doubled in his past two at-bats. Nootbaar, who had two hits, an RBI and scored a run Wednesday, can be optioned — and has been — several times this year.

“I’d rather have that decision, than itching to get somebody off the roster,” Marmol said.

Pitching after break in flux

Because Adam Wainwright made his final first-half start on Wednesday, it would seem likely he would make the first start after the break — on July 22 in Cincinnati. Marmol, saying that indeed was a probability, offered he had “two different versions of what that looks like.”

The series subsequent to the Cincinnati series will be a two-gamer in Toronto,  on July 26-27. Cardinals players not vaccinated against COVID as of this past Tuesday would be not allowed in Canada. For instance, the Kansas City Royals will leave 10 players behind this weekend whey they play the Blue Jays.

Asked if any starters wouldn’t be going to Toronto, Marmol laughed and said, “I am sure. I’m not answering it.”

Extra bases

Utility man Brendan Donovan was playable Wednesday but didn’t start after being out four days because of stomach flu. He had become winded taking ground balls on Tuesday and was 0 for one Wednesday as a pinch-hitter.

“Didn’t start him just yet but definitely could use him,” Marmol said.

• The Cardinals sold the contract of Memphis left-hander Brandon Waddell to the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization.

• Memphis right-hander Angel Rondon, designated for assignment last week, was claimed on waivers by San Francisco.