With 17 games left on their schedule and being in the midst of a close playoff race in the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals are making a switch to their starting rotation.
The Cardinals will move struggling left-hander Jaime Garcia to the bullpen and replace him in the rotation with young flame-thrower Alex Reyes.
Reyes will start Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.
The 30-year-old Garcia owns a 7.15 ERA in September, including seven walks and three home runs in 11 1/3 innings. Reyes – the team’s top prospect coming into the season – has pitched to a 1.29 ERA, including 34 strikeouts in nine appearances, two of which have been starts.
St. Louis sits a half-game back of the New York Mets, and one game back of the Giants for the two NL wild-card spots, so this weekend’s series in San Francisco is critical.
