St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Miles Mikolas Rejoins Rotation After Serving Suspension

Right-hander Miles Mikolas is projected to start for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, according to the team's official website.

Mikolas just served a five-game suspension, which stems back to an incident against the Chicago Cubs on July 27.

Cubs outfielder Ian Happ hit Cardinals catcher Wilson Contreras in the head with his backswing in the first inning of that game, which led to Contreras leaving the game due to injury. Mikolas immediately threw an inside fastball to Happ, and he hit him in the lower back one pitch later.

After the umpires met to discuss the play, Mikolas was ejected without warning.

Ian Happ hit Willson Contreras on a backswing and Contreras was removed from the game

Two pitches later, Miles Mikolas hit Happ with a pitch. Mikolas and Oli Marmol were ejected from the game pic.twitter.com/vP3LgdRn3X
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 28, 2023

Mikolas was suspended five games, but he appealed and made his next scheduled start against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1. Mikolas dropped the appeal the next day, and he missed St. Louis' next five contests.

On the season, Mikolas is 6-7 with a 4.29 ERA, 1.288 WHIP and 1.8 WAR. St. Louis was 8-4 in his first 12 appearances of the year, but the team is just 2-10 in his last 12.

Injuries cost Mikolas the entire 2020 season and most of the 2021 campaign, but he has still managed to lead the Cardinals in starts and innings pitched over the past six years. Mikolas was named an All-Star in both 2018 and 2022, and the 34-year-old has a 3.61 ERA and 1.144 WHIP since arriving in St. Louis.

First pitch for Tuesday's game between the Rays and Cardinals is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.

Mikolas, who last took the mount six days ago, has a 10.00 ERA when he pitches on six or more days' rest this season.

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