The St. Louis Cardinals continue to shuffle pieces around in their bullpen as they search for consistency, and the latest move once again involved left-handed reliever Jared Shuster. The Cardinals designated Shuster for assignment for the second time this season after reinstating right-hander Matt Pushard from the 15-day injured list. The organization will now wait to see whether Shuster clears waivers once again, potentially allowing him to remain in the system with Triple-A Memphis.
Shuster has found himself stuck in a difficult cycle this season. Earlier in the year, the Cardinals also designated him for assignment before eventually sending him to the Memphis Redbirds after he went unclaimed on waivers. After recently being recalled back to the major league roster, the left-hander appeared in two games and logged four innings of relief work before the Cardinals once again removed him from the roster picture.
The latest decision was made in order to create space for Pushard, who could become an important addition to a bullpen that has struggled to maintain stability throughout the season. St. Louis has experienced inconsistent performances from several relievers, forcing the front office to frequently adjust the pitching staff in search of reliable options.
Pushard is an interesting arm for the Cardinals because he arrived through the Rule 5 Draft during the offseason after previously being part of the Miami Marlins organization. However, because he was selected in the Rule 5 process, the Cardinals do not have the flexibility to freely move him between the majors and minors. That means Pushard must quickly prove he deserves a permanent place on the active roster if he hopes to remain in St. Louis long term.
The right-hander has barely pitched for the Cardinals this year due to injury troubles. He appeared in only one game before landing on the injured list with right patellar tendinitis early in the season. During his rehab assignment, Pushard made 11 appearances and showed flashes of potential. He posted a respectable 3.55 ERA while recording strikeouts at a solid rate of 7.1 batters per nine innings.
Despite those encouraging numbers, Pushard also showed signs of inconsistency. Control issues became a concern during his rehab outings, as he issued six walks and allowed 12 hits over 12.2 innings. The Cardinals are hopeful that with more opportunities and better health, he can sharpen his command and become a dependable bullpen piece.
If Pushard struggles at the major league level, the Cardinals still have several internal options they could consider. Relievers such as Ryan Fernandez and Chris Roycroft remain possibilities, while prospect Max Rajcic has reportedly impressed during his transition into a relief role this season. The organization appears willing to continue experimenting until it discovers the right combination of arms.
For now, the Cardinals hope Pushard can provide some much-needed stability to a bullpen that has experienced frequent ups and downs. As for Shuster, his future with the organization remains uncertain once again. If he clears waivers like he did previously, there is still a chance he could return to Memphis and continue serving as depth for the club later in the year.
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