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St. Louis Cardinals could get September boost from Jack Flaherty

By Kevin Henry

Jun 21, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) gives up a home run to Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames (27) in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) gives up a home run to Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames (27) in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports /
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DENVER — Jack Flaherty’s return to the mound was postponed on Tuesday night when the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, had their game postponed by weather. However, that start will come on Wednesday and will hopefully be the first step for the 26-year-old right-hander to return to the St. Louis rotation.

Flaherty is now scheduled to throw 30-35 pitches in the first game of a double-header on Wednesday. St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol talked about the importance of reaching that pitch count earlier in the week, and he also knows that hitting that pitch count will be the first milestone for Flaherty to reach on his way back to St. Louis.

The return of Jack Flaherty to the St. Louis Cardinals rotation could be a big boost for the franchise in September

Flaherty has only pitched 8.0 innings this season because of right shoulder issues which have landed him on the 60-day injured list twice, including when he left a game on June 26 after just a pair of innings because of “a dead arm.” However, Marmol holds hope that the return of Flaherty can bolster a rotation as the Cardinals make a September push to win the National League Central and potentially a deep run into the postseason.

“He’s a good pitcher,” Marmol said of Flaherty. “Any time you’re able to add an above-average arm or bat, it’s helpful. He provides a pretty legit arm that you can insert into your rotation.”

However, Marmol also cautioned that there was no timeline on Flaherty’s return and it would take more than one rehab start to build him back up to the length needed to make an impact for the Cardinals.

“We count on the guys we have until that presents itself, so right now we’ll roll with what we have,” Marmol said.

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While there is no set date for Flaherty’s return, once he does come back to the St. Louis Cardinals, it will be a boost to a rotation that headed into Wednesday’s action with a combined minus-0.4 bWAR (ranking the Cardinals 19th out of MLB’s 30 teams).

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