Michael McGreevy, the St. Louis Cardinals’ No. 10 prospect and likely starter, was sent back to Triple-A on Monday in a disheartening decision. In his lone appearance of the season, McGreevy blanked a formidable Mets lineup with 5.2 one-hit innings in Sunday’s doubleheader. Pallante was booted after only 3.1 innings. McGreevy, who has a 4.08 ERA this season, is now returning to Memphis.
With a 4.13 ERA in minor league play, the 24-year-old right-hander has had greater success in the Majors since starting his career as a professional. McGreevy tossed 23 big-league innings last season with an impressive 1.96 ERA in his rookie year. It would seem that his recent success would have earned him a spot in the rotation, but it seems that the Cardinals’ management doesn’t feel that way.
St. Louis’ decision only could be detrimental to the team
At this point, optioning McGreevy makes little sense. Having failed to gain any headway on a reconstruction, the team is in a desperate dash to prove 2025 is not simply a wasted season as they try to unload former superstar Nolan Arenado. Their fourth-place NL Central position hasn’t inspired them much thus far. Additionally, removing McGreevy off the roster won’t help them gain ground.
As of Monday, the Cards’ pitching staff is ranked No. 22 in the league with an unsettling 4.32 ERA overall. Pallante, whose ERA rose to 4.78 on Sunday, is one of three of their starting pitchers who presently have ERAs over 4.65.
It goes without saying, the Cardinals are in dire need of pitching help, not just for their rotation, but their bullpen as well. This makes their decision to option McGreevy more confusing. Management has acted as if finding a space for him is a difficult challenge. In doing this, they’ve just conveyed a message to their hopeful young prospects that hard effort and exceptional outcomes aren’t recognized.
Although there is still time to rescue the season with a 16-19 record, it will soon come to an end if the Cardinals fail to prevent their finest players from thriving in the Major Leagues. For the time being, Cardinals supporters can only hope that McGreevy’s option was merely a calculated decision to give him a break after the doubleheader sweep.
