Well folks, if you thought the Cardinals’ pitching situation was going to settle into a groove this summer… think again. The front office just dropped a pair of moves that say loud and clear: June is gonna be a grind, and they’re gearing up for it. On Monday, St. Louis recalled right-handers Riley O’Brien and Chris Roycroft to give the bullpen a fresh boost. Headed the other way? Michael McGreevy and Matt Svanson—both optioned back to Triple-A Memphis.
Now that might seem like just another set of transactions on the surface, but don’t blink—there’s more going on here than a game of musical chairs. This is about managing innings, protecting arms, and—let’s be real—buying time before some tough conversations catch up with the staff.
Here’s the X post from the Cardinals
Here’s what’s really going down
the Cardinals are looking to experiment again with a six-man rotation in June. They’ve got a meat-grinder of a schedule coming, and they don’t want to torch the bullpen by the All-Star break. So they’re threading the needle—balancing durability, depth, and (hopefully) dominance.
But buried in all of this is the elephant in the room: what do they do with Michael McGreevy?
McGreevy just tossed six innings against the Dodgers. He wasn’t flawless—four earned—but for a young gun with barely any big-league mileage, he held his own against one of the scariest lineups in baseball. And the numbers he’s put up in Memphis? Lights-out. The kid’s ready.
So why is McGreevy heading back down?
Simple: no room at the inn. The Cardinals have six healthy starters, and unless someone drops off, McGreevy’s the odd man out. But let’s talk about that rotation, shall we?
Andre Pallante, once the toast of the town, is now getting shelled like it’s batting practice. His 4.91 ERA in 12 starts ranks among the worst in the league. Righties are feasting on him again. The swing-and-miss stuff just isn’t there. And yet, somehow, he still has a spot. That’s not strategy—that’s stubbornness.
Look, it’s no secret. The coaching staff is going to face a reckoning later this month. When McGreevy gets his next start—and he will—the numbers, the momentum, and the fans will all be watching. If Pallante keeps struggling, how long can the Cards justify keeping him in the rotation? The answer should be short. Real short.
Meanwhile, O’Brien and Roycroft aren’t just being shuffled in for show. O’Brien’s been sharp lately down in Memphis, and Roycroft’s working to get that sinker dancing again. If either pops, they might stick. But make no mistake—this is a bullpen in flux. More arms will be moving in and out of the pro clubs bullpen. And maybe, just maybe, the next wave finally includes the hurlers that takes this team to the next level.
So buckle up. The deck is being shuffled, but sooner or later, someone’s going to have to fold. And if the Cardinals want to stay in the fight, they better make the right call.
