As rookie Michael McGreevy settles in as a member of the Cardinals' rotation, he has made a strong case to prove he belongs, both now and going forward.
McGreevy continues that case Monday as the Cardinals open a four-game series vs. the Pirates at Busch Stadium at 6:45 p.m.
The right-hander McGreevy (5-2, 4.26 ERA) has been the team's most valuable starter since the All-Star break by Fangraphs wins above replacement, far more valuable than any other Redbirds starter.
As he makes his 13th career start Monday, McGreevy has been even better in August, putting forth quality starts in each of his last three outings and leading the team's starters with a 3.75 ERA this month.
That three-game quality start streak is second among Cardinals starters only to Sonny Gray's four straight in late May and early June.
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Coinciding with that strong August has been McGreevy's increased changeup usage. At 13.5% in August, that's more than double the rate at which he threw the pitch in July. He uses it mostly against lefties and induces groundballs.
McGreevy has chopped his launch angle allowed by more than half this month, from 14 degrees in July to 6 in August.
The Pirates' play of late makes McGreevy's task a little tougher. Pittsburgh, though it has baseball's worst on-base plus slugging percentage (.656), has been far more respectable after the break.
In the month of August, Pittsburgh has been a mid-tier offensive bunch, with a .728 team OPS to St. Louis' .663.
Since the break, St. Louis is dead last in baseball offensively by metric.
Right-hander Johan Oviedo (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his third start of the season for Pittsburgh. He missed last year with Tommy John surgery then this year a lat strain has kept him out until August.
Oviedo, a Cuban who debuted with the Cardinals in 2020, went five innings and allowed one run vs. Toronto in his last start.
The Cardinals are 64-67 after a 3-3 Florida road trip in which they won two of three at Miami then lost two of three at Tampa Bay. They are 5 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot.
Masyn Winn is back in the Cardinals' lineup a day after he was scratched with knee discomfort.
The Pirates are 57-74 and have won four straight and five of six, sweeping the lowly Rockies over the weekend. Pittsburgh is 5-4 vs. the Cardinals this season entering this final series of the season between the two. Pittsburgh has a losing record vs. all other National League Central foes.
Gordon Graceffo recalled, Andre Granillo sent down
Before the game, the Cardinals recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple -A Memphis and sent righty Andre Granillo back down to Memphis.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Pirates
When:Â 6:45 p.m. Monday
Where:Â Busch Stadium in St. Louis
TV/radio: FanDuel ÁńÁ«ĘÓƵ Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, LF
2. Masyn Winn, SS
3. Alec Burleson, 1B
4. Willson Contreras, DH
5. Nolan Gorman, 3B
6. Thomas Saggese, 2B
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Nathan Church, CF
P: Michael McGreevy, RHP
PIRATES
1. Ronny Simon, RF
2. Nick Gonzales, 2B
3. Bryan Reynolds, DH
4. Spencer Horwitz, 1B
5. Tommy Pham, LF
6. Jared Triolo, 3B
7. Jack Suwinski, CF
8. Joey Bart, C
9. Liover Peguero, SS
P: Johan Oviedo, RHP
Injury report
Masyn Winn, SS (knee): A late scratch Sunday ahead of the series finale after feeling discomfort in his right knee, Winn returned to the lineup Monday and described himself as “day-to-day” while he deals with the injury. Winn has been playing through the soreness for most of the season, and he has a daily regimen that involves treatment and training for the knee. He underwent an MRI of the knee on Monday. The results revealed the knee has shown improvements, per Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. Winn received an anti-inflammatory shot during the All-Star break to alleviate some of the pain. He said Monday the injury will require him to play through pain. Updated Aug. 25
Nolan Arenado, 3B (right shoulder strain): Arenado began taking swings recently and is on track to begin a throwing progression in the next couple of days, Marmol said. How Arenado progresses in throwing will be one of the final boxes the Cardinals will look to check as Arenado progresses through his rehab. The former All-Star traveled from the team’s training complex in Jupiter, Florida, where he has done his rehab, to Miami last week to join the Cardinals during a series vs. the Marlins. He said the pain in his right shoulder has lessened. Arenado went on the 10-day injured list Aug. 1 with a shoulder injury he’s spent the past month trying to play through. There is no timetable for his return. Updated Aug. 25
Brendan Donovan, 2B (sprained toe/left groin): An injury sustained before the All-Star break persists and is likely contributing to soreness in his leg and groin, the infielder said recently. The Cardinals placed him on the 10-day injured list Aug. 18 retroactive to Aug. 15. He’s begun hitting off a tee, taken swings through soft toss, and reportedly felt progress in his groin. Updated Aug. 25
Victor Scott II, CF (sprained left ankle): Scott sprained his ankle Aug. 16 while trying to rob a home run from Aaron Judge, and the Cardinals placed him on the 10-day injured list the following day. Scott remained in St. Louis during the Cardinals’ two-city road trip through Florida. He has made improvements in his recovery, Marmol said. The speedster is set to add change-of-direction drills to his activity level and has been able to hit and take part in defensive drills. Updated Aug. 25
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter remains on a throwing program in Jupiter, trying to overcome some setbacks as he increased the intensity of his throws through the course of the season. He's visited St. Louis for evaluation to monitor if the injury worsens. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated Aug. 6
