Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Set to lose rotation spot
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Thompson is expected to lose his rotation spot and move to the bullpen with Sonny Gray (hamstring) on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Rather than sending Gray out for a minor-league rehab assignment after he tossed 54 pitches in a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, the Cardinals saw enough from the veteran right-hander to feel comfortable having him return from the IL for his next outing. According to Jones, Thompson won't be available out of the bullpen Sunday against the Marlins or in Monday's series opener with the Phillies just in case Gray suffers a setback leading up to Tuesday's game, but Thompson looks like he'll be headed for a relief role before long. Since he isn't yet fully ramped up, Gray is expected to be limited to 65 pitches Tuesday, so Thompson could even be called upon to pitch an inning or two once the former exits his start. After faring respectably upon joining the St. Louis rotation over the final two months of the 2023 campaign, Thompson has struggled to carry any momentum into 2024. Over his first two starts, Thompson has given up eight earned runs on 11 hits and six walks while striking out nine over 10.1 innings.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Struggles with control in loss
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Thompson (0-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Padres, surrendering three runs on five hits and four walks across five innings. He struck out five.
Thompson was consistently in trouble Wednesday, allowing a runner to reach or cross second base in each of the first four innings, including a solo home run by Kyle Higashioka in the fourth. He was also picked on by baserunners, giving up three stolen bases on the day. With Sonny Gray (hamstring) on the brink of beginning a rehab stint with Triple-A Memphis, it appears Thompson will only get one or two more turns in the rotation. He's tentatively scheduled for another tough draw against the Phillies next week after opening up the campaign facing the Dodgers and Padres.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Falls to Dodgers
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Thompson dropped to 0-1 in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers after striking out four while allowing five earned runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.
All five of the runs charged to Thompson came via home runs, as the left-hander gave up solo homers in the first and second innings before Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run shot in the fourth. Thompson went 5-7 last season with a 4.48 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB across 66.1 innings. The southpaw figures to head back to the bullpen, or Triple-A Memphis, when Sonny Gray (hamstring) returns from the IL.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced Friday that Thompson will be a member of the club's season-opening rotation, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Veteran Sonny Gray (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, opening the door for Thompson to earn a rotation spot. The southpaw pitched well during spring training with a 2.81 ERA and 14:6 K:BB across 16 innings, but Thompson will likely only get a few starts to stake his claim to a more permanent rotation spot since Gray isn't expected to have a lengthy absence.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Competing for rotation spot
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Thompson allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three without walking a batter in Saturday's Grapefruit league start versus the Astros.
Thompson and Matthew Liberatore are in the Cardinals' biggest battle for the last starting spot in the rotation. Thompson pitched for 2.2 innings Saturday before giving up back-to-back doubles. With Steven Matz coming along slowly after an injury-plagued 2023, there could be room for both Thompson and Liberatore in the Cardinals' projected early season six-man rotation, but both of them have shown some inconsistency early in the spring.
Thompson pitched 5.1 innings against Milwaukee on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings. He did not factor in the decision.
Thompson carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth frame but couldn't make the advantage stand up. He gave up consecutive doubles to begin the inning, resulting in the Brewers' first run, then saw the game-tying run cross the plate on a one-out fielder's choice. That tally was unearned due to a previous throwing error behind him, but it was nonetheless enough to move Thompson out of position for a win. His last victory came Sept. 9. This was presumably Thompson's final appearance of the campaign, and he finishes with a 4.34 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB over 66.1 frames, with nine of his 25 appearances coming as a starter.
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Start pushed to Wednesday
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Thompson will start Wednesday's game at Milwaukee, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Thompson had been lined up to work Tuesday's series opener versus the Brewers, but Miles Mikolas will now get that nod so that he can also potentially handle Sunday's season finale against the Reds back at Busch Stadium. Thompson, 25, has registered an overall 4.57 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB in 61 innings (eight starts, 16 relief appearances) this year with St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Yields four runs again
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Thompson (5-7) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Brewers.
Thompson yielded a three-run home run to Josh Donaldson in the first inning and a solo shot to Tyrone Taylor in the fourth. This was the first time Thompson's allowed multiple homers in an outing this year, though he's now given up a season-high four runs in consecutive starts. The southpaw is at a 4.57 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB through 61 innings over 24 appearances (eight starts) overall. He's projected to make his next start on the road in a rematch with the Brewers.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Coughs up four runs
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Thompson (5-6) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings Friday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Phillies.
Thompson got off to a rocky start by giving up four runs in the first inning. He didn't face much of a threat after that and was able to settle in for four shutout frames to end his night. Thompson had allowed three or fewer runs while tossing at least four frames in seven straight appearances before Friday's outing. He'll carry a 4.34 ERA into his next start, which is currently lined up to be at home against the Brewers.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Tosses five innings in victory
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Thompson (5-5) earned the win over Cincinnati on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six batters over five innings.
Thompson looked like he could be in for a short start when the Reds tallied three runs on four hits in the second frame, but the southpaw recovered and didn't allow any additional damage the rest of the way. He needed 98 pitches to get through five innings, going just deep enough to earn his third win across his past four starts. Thompson has been decent during that stretch, posting a 4.29 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB over 21 frames. He's tentatively slated to face the Phillies at home in his next start.
Thompson (4-5) earned the win Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits and zero walks over seven innings against Pittsburgh. He struck out six.
It was the longest outing of Thompson's career, as he closed out the seventh emphatically by inducing a pop-up then striking out the final two batters for a 1-2-3 inning. The win was his second over the Pirates in 11 days and helped the Cardinals stave off a sweep. Thompson will carry a 3.86 ERA into his next start, likely to take place next weekend in Cincinnati.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Goes four innings in no-decision
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Thompson did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks over four innings against San Diego. He struck out three.
Thompson's final line certainly could've been worse, as he was charged with just two earned runs despite allowing nine Padres to reach base over four innings. The 25-year-old southpaw hasn't allowed more than two earned runs through five starts since rejoining St. Louis' rotation, though he's yet to pitch more than five innings. Overall, he's 3-5 with a 3.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB across 39 innings this season. Thompson's currently in line for a tough road matchup with Atlanta in his next start.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Earns third win
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Thompson (3-5) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over five innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.
Thompson plunked Connor Joe in the third inning with the bases loaded to send home the Pirates' first run of the game and later surrendered a solo shot to Ke'Bryan Hayes. Outside of that the lefty was efficient in only his second start of the season and actually struck out four of the first eight batters he faced before going on to log his third win. Thompson has now allowed two earned runs over five innings in both of his first two starts, posting a 10:2 K:BB over that run.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Takes fifth loss
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Thompson (2-5) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over five innings Friday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Mets.
Thompson was greeted by Brandon Nimmo's leadoff shot to begin the game but still turned in a decent outing. It was Thompson's longest appearance of the year and first start since officially moving into the Cardinals' rotation. Over his last three trips to the mound, he's given up just four runs while posting an 18:2 K:BB through 13 innings. His next start is currently lined up to be in Pittsburgh next week.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Moving into rotation
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Thompson will join the Cardinals' rotation after Steven Matz landed on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left lat strain, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Matz could be in danger of missing the remainder of the 2023 season, so this will be a big opportunity for Thompson as the out-of-contention Cardinals look ahead to 2024 and beyond. The 25-year-old southpaw struck out eight batters over four innings of one-run ball in a spot start Aug. 6 against the Rockies and carries an overall 3.96 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings (17 appearances) this season for St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Solid in spot start
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Thompson (2-4) allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out eight over four innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Rockies.
Thompson drew the assignment for a spot start necessitated by Miles Mikolas' suspension for throwing at Ian Happ. This was Thompson's first major-league start of the year, and he covered the most innings of any St. Louis pitcher in the contest, though it resulted in a tough-luck loss after he gave up a run on a sacrifice fly. The southpaw is still viewed as a starter in the long run, but he's been a multi-inning reliever in the majors this season. He's at a 4.29 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 29:12 K:BB through 21 innings. With Mikolas set to return to the rotation Tuesday, Thompson will likely be down for a few days before returning to a bullpen role.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Set to open Sunday
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Thompson will work as the Cardinals' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Rockies, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Thompson was effective in his last two relief appearances, and he'll now get the chance to start with the big club Sunday for the first time this season. He hasn't tossed more than 33 pitches in a big-league game this season, so he likely won't work deep enough into Sunday's contest to qualify for a win.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Recalled from Memphis
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St. Louis recalled Thompson from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Thompson was just sent down last week, but he's back now with the Cardinals dealing away parts ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. The 25-year-old left-hander carries a disappointing 5.06 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB in 16 innings of relief this season at the major-league level.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Sent to Triple-A
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Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Thompson will return to Memphis after being called up July 5, and he allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings while in the big leagues. The transaction opened a roster spot for Adam Wainwright (shoulder) for his return from the injured list.
