The St. Louis Cardinals continued to reshuffle their pitching staff on Tuesday, designating left-handed pitcher Bruce Zimmermann for assignment just hours after his season debut while selecting fellow southpaw Jared Shuster to the major league roster ahead of the second game of the club’s doubleheader.
The transaction reflects the Cardinals’ ongoing effort to manage their pitching depth as they navigate a demanding stretch of games and prepare for additional roster changes later this week.
Zimmermann’s Return Lasts Just One Game
Zimmermann’s stay on the active roster proved to be extremely brief.
The veteran left-hander had only been promoted earlier in the day after the Cardinals sought additional pitching coverage during their doubleheader. According to reports, the club wanted to provide extra rest for starting pitchers Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, prompting Zimmermann’s promotion to serve as the primary pitcher in the opening game.
Despite the short notice, Zimmermann delivered a respectable outing.
The 30-year-old worked five innings, allowing three earned runs while helping preserve the bullpen during the Cardinals’ 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Although he kept St. Louis within striking distance, the offense was unable to overcome Milwaukee’s early advantage.
Even with the solid performance, the Cardinals had apparently intended for Zimmermann’s call-up to be temporary from the outset.
Out of Minor League Options
Because Zimmermann has exhausted all of his minor league options, the Cardinals could not simply return him to Triple-A following the game.
Instead, the club designated him for assignment, a move that places him on waivers and gives other Major League teams an opportunity to claim the experienced left-hander before he can be outrighted back to the minors.
Strong Triple-A Season Could Draw Interest
Zimmermann signed a minor league contract with St. Louis before the season and had quietly put together an impressive campaign at Triple-A prior to earning his latest promotion.
Across 15 starts, he posted a 3.78 ERA over 78⅔ innings, while recording an above-average 25.7% strikeout rate, a solid 6.4% walk rate, and a 42.9% ground-ball rate.
Although his fastball averages below 90 mph, Zimmermann relies on a diverse six-pitch repertoire and command rather than overpowering velocity, traits that could make him an attractive option for clubs seeking rotation or bullpen depth.
Over parts of his major league career, Zimmermann has appeared in 164⅓ innings, compiling a 5.64 ERA while demonstrating good control and an ability to generate ground balls.
With several teams across baseball currently dealing with pitching injuries, there is a realistic possibility another organization could submit a waiver claim in the coming days.
Shuster Returns Once Again
Replacing Zimmermann on the active roster is Jared Shuster, who continues his revolving-door season with St. Louis.
The 27-year-old left-hander has now been called up for the third time this season after signing a minor league deal during the offseason.
Each of his previous promotions followed a similar pattern. Shuster made two appearances before being designated for assignment because he is also out of minor league options. On both occasions, he cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A without leaving the organization.
Mixed Results for Shuster
In limited major league action this season, Shuster has performed reasonably well, surrendering only two earned runs over 7⅔ innings.
However, his broader track record has been less encouraging.
Across four major league seasons, the former first-round draft pick owns a 5.12 ERA in 149⅓ career innings, accompanied by a relatively low strikeout rate and a higher-than-desired walk rate.
His Triple-A numbers this season have also raised concerns, as he has posted an 8.78 ERA over 27⅔ innings. While advanced metrics suggest some poor luck has contributed to those struggles, his underlying numbers still indicate room for improvement.
Another Move May Be Coming Soon
Shuster’s latest stint on the major league roster could be another short-lived assignment.
Because he no longer has minor league options, the Cardinals would once again need to designate him for assignment before sending him back to Triple-A.
That possibility appears increasingly likely, with reports indicating top pitching prospect Luis Gastelum is expected to be promoted later this week.
If that move materializes, Shuster could once again find himself removed from the roster as the Cardinals continue adjusting their pitching staff in pursuit of consistency during the second half of the season.
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