Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals' Disney Movie-Like Dream Takes Intermission Following Latest Roster Move

The St. Louis hurler's big-league aspirations have paused
Nate Hagerty|
May 8, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; A general view of the tarp on the field as storms move through the St. Louis region delaying a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
May 8, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; A general view of the tarp on the field as storms move through the St. Louis region delaying a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are recuperating Thursday after dropping a crucial series to the National League Central rival Pittsburgh Pirates this week.

Despite overpowering Pirates' phenom ace Paul Skenes during Tuesday's series-tying 5-3 victory over Pittsburgh, the red-hot Cardinals offense cooled off -- logging one run scored throughout a 13-inning battle against the Bucs, losing 2-1.

The Cardinals have a tough road ahead as they prepare to host the NL East foe Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium on Friday in what should be a thrilling three-game series. However, St. Louis will look to return to the win column without an aspiring big-league reliever.

"The (Cardinals) have optioned right-handed pitcher Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis," MLB.com's John Denton reported Thursday morning. "A corresponding move has yet to be announced.
Roycroft is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA. He took the loss in Pittsburgh on Wednesday after walking two batters and surrendering the go-ahead run in the 13th inning."

After achieving his dream of being on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, a scenario Denton labeled a "feel-good, tear-jerking Disney movie come to life", Roycroft's start to 2025 wasn't so magical.

Roycroft logged a 0-2 record with a 7.94 ERA, four-to-six strikeout-to-walk ratio, .286 batting average against and a 2.12 WHIP in 5 2/3 innings pitched for the Cardinals before Thursday's demotion.

Some hoped that the 27-year-old would replace 2024 NL holds leader Andrew Kittredge in the back of the Cardinals bullpen after St. Louis moved on from the one-time All-Star over the offseason.

Unfortunately, it seems that Roycroft needs to sharpen his skills with Triple-A Memphis before potentially blossoming into a high-leverage hurler in the Cardinals' relief core.

More MLB: Cardinals Hurler Could Be Traded To Help Rangers Contend For 2nd World Series Title

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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