Cardinals place reliever Jason Motte on the DL

The St. Louis Cardinals placed reliever Jason Motte on the DL Friday, retroactive to August 1. Motte is suffering from lower back spasms. In 22 innings this year, Motte has a 4.91 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed reliever Jason Motte on the DL Friday, retroactive to August 1, the team announced. Motte is suffering from lower back spasms. 

In 22 innings this year, Motte has a 4.91 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He's returning from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of 2013. The year before that, he led the N.L. in saves with 42. 

St. Louis recalled left-handed pitcher Nick Greenwood to take Motte's spot in the bullpen. In 19 innings with the Cardinals earlier this season, Greenwood posted a 4.74 ERA and struck out 10 batters. 

More: Inside the Orioles' rise to the top of the AL East

The Cardinals are 61-52 and one game back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the N.L. Central lead. 

- Alex Hampl