The St. Louis Cardinals made a series of roster adjustments in the middle of their doubleheader, continuing a pattern of aggressive, short-term pitching management that has become increasingly common across Major League Baseball. Between the two games, the club selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster, bringing him onto the active roster. In a corresponding move, fellow left-hander Bruce Zimmermann was designated for assignment, ending what turned out to be an extremely brief stint with the major league club.
Zimmermann’s time on the roster was essentially temporary by design. He had only been added earlier that same day, with the Cardinals clearly intending to use him in a very specific role. According to reporting from Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, the organization wanted to provide additional rest for two members of its starting rotation, Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante.
With those pitchers unavailable for regular duty in the doubleheader, the Cardinals needed someone capable of handling a significant number of innings in the first game. Zimmermann fit that need, as he had been working as a starter at the Triple-A level and was stretched out enough to pitch multiple frames.
As a result, Zimmermann was deployed as the “bulk” pitcher in Game 1 of the twin bill. Rather than serving as a traditional starter, he entered in a role designed to absorb innings after an opener or early-game situation.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals planned to use Hunter Dobbins as the starting pitcher for the second game of the day-night doubleheader. This approach allowed the team to distribute its pitching resources more efficiently, particularly given the strain that doubleheaders often place on a pitching staff.
In terms of performance, Zimmermann delivered a respectable outing considering the circumstances. He pitched five innings and allowed three earned runs, keeping the Cardinals within striking distance throughout his appearance.
While it was not a dominant showing, it was certainly serviceable and aligned with what the team likely expected when they called him up. Despite his effort, the Cardinals ultimately fell short in that first game, losing a close 4–3 contest to the Milwaukee Brewers. (Yardbarker)
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Even though Zimmermann performed adequately, his removal from the roster shortly thereafter underscores the transactional nature of his call-up. The Cardinals did not intend for him to remain with the team beyond this specific assignment.
Because he is out of minor league options, the club could not simply send him back down to Triple-A Memphis without exposing him to waivers. As a result, designating him for assignment became the only viable procedural move to clear a roster spot for Shuster. (MLB.com)
Zimmermann will now likely be placed on waivers in the coming days, giving other teams an opportunity to claim him. Given the current landscape of pitching across the league—where injuries and fatigue are common—there is a reasonable chance that another organization could take interest in him. Teams are constantly searching for reliable innings, particularly from pitchers who can function as swingmen or provide length out of the bullpen.
Prior to his call-up, Zimmermann had been quietly putting together a solid season at the Triple-A level. After signing a minor league deal with the Cardinals during the offseason, he made 15 starts and logged 78 2/3 innings. During that stretch, he posted a 3.78 ERA, a mark that reflects consistent effectiveness over a fairly significant sample size.
His underlying metrics were also encouraging. He recorded a 25.7% strikeout rate, indicating an ability to miss bats, while maintaining a 6.4% walk rate, which suggests good control. Additionally, his 42.9% ground ball rate showed that he was capable of keeping the ball on the ground at an above-average clip, an important trait for limiting damage.
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These numbers paint the picture of a pitcher who has been more effective than his reputation might suggest. While he may not possess overpowering stuff, Zimmermann has demonstrated the ability to compete and produce results at the upper levels of the minor leagues. That combination of performance and experience could make him an appealing option for teams in need of pitching depth.
One of Zimmermann’s defining characteristics is his pitch mix. Unlike many modern pitchers who rely heavily on velocity, Zimmermann operates with a more varied arsenal. His fastball averages below 90 miles per hour, which places him on the lower end of the velocity spectrum for major league pitchers.
However, he compensates for that lack of speed by utilizing a six-pitch mix, allowing him to keep hitters off balance and prevent them from keying in on any one offering. This approach can be effective, particularly against lineups that are not seeing him for the first time.
At the major league level, Zimmermann’s overall track record has been somewhat uneven. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated 164 1/3 innings with a 5.64 ERA.
His strikeout rate at that level sits at 17.5%, while his walk rate is a solid 5.2%. He has also generated ground balls at a 41.9% clip. While these numbers are not exceptional, they do suggest that he is capable of functioning as a depth option or back-end contributor when needed.
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Turning to the other side of the transaction, Jared Shuster’s addition to the roster provides the Cardinals with a fresh arm for the second game of the doubleheader.
At 27 years old, Shuster has already experienced a fair amount of movement between the major and minor leagues this season. After signing a minor league deal with St. Louis during the offseason, he has now been selected to the big league roster three separate times.
Each of his previous stints with the Cardinals followed a similar pattern. Shuster would be added to the roster, make a small number of appearances—typically two—and then be designated for assignment due to his lack of minor league options.
In both prior instances, he cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Triple-A Memphis, allowing the Cardinals to retain him within the organization. This cycle, often referred to as the “DFA carousel,” highlights the precarious position of players who are out of options but not firmly established at the major league level.
In his limited major league action this season, Shuster has actually been fairly effective in a small sample size. Across 7 2/3 innings, he has allowed just two earned runs, a performance that suggests he can contribute in short bursts. However, when viewed in the context of his broader career, the results are less encouraging.
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Over parts of four major league seasons, Shuster has logged 149 1/3 innings and posted a 5.12 ERA. His strikeout rate during that time is 15%, which is below league average, while his walk rate sits at 10.1%, indicating occasional struggles with command. His ground ball rate of 37% is also on the lower side, meaning he tends to allow more balls in the air, which can lead to extra-base hits and home runs.
Shuster’s performance at Triple-A this season has also raised concerns. In 27 2/3 innings, he has recorded an 8.78 ERA, a figure that stands out as particularly high. While some of that inflated ERA can be attributed to bad luck—such as unfavorable batted-ball outcomes—his fielding independent pitching (FIP) of 6.99 suggests that his struggles are not entirely due to randomness. Instead, they point to underlying issues that have affected his effectiveness.
Despite these challenges, Shuster continues to receive opportunities, largely because of his left-handedness and the ongoing need for pitching depth. Left-handed pitchers are often in demand, especially those who can provide multiple innings out of the bullpen. For the Cardinals, adding Shuster in this situation makes sense from a logistical standpoint, as they needed a fresh arm capable of covering innings in the second game of the doubleheader.
However, his place on the roster may once again be short-lived. Because he is out of options, the Cardinals cannot send him back to the minors without first designating him for assignment. This reality means that every time he is added to the roster, there is a strong possibility that he will soon be removed again to make room for another player.
That possibility becomes even more likely when considering the team’s upcoming plans. Reports have indicated that the Cardinals intend to select the contract of Luis Gastelum later in the week. If that move materializes, it could trigger another round of roster shuffling, with Shuster potentially being designated for assignment once again to clear space. In that scenario, he and Gastelum would essentially trade places on the roster, continuing the cycle of short-term pitching moves.
This sequence of transactions reflects a broader trend in modern baseball, where teams frequently rotate pitchers in and out of the roster to maintain a fresh bullpen. Doubleheaders, in particular, often accelerate this process, as they place an increased burden on pitching staffs. By using pitchers like Zimmermann and Shuster in targeted roles, the Cardinals are attempting to navigate these challenges while preserving the health of their core rotation.
Ultimately, these moves illustrate the delicate balance that teams must strike between immediate needs and long-term roster management. Zimmermann’s brief appearance provided valuable innings in a moment of need, even if it came at the cost of his roster spot. Shuster, meanwhile, continues to serve as a flexible depth option, cycling between the majors and minors as circumstances dictate.
As the season progresses, it is likely that the Cardinals will continue to employ similar strategies, particularly if injuries or scheduling quirks create additional strain on their pitching staff. For players like Zimmermann and Shuster, this means remaining ready to contribute at a moment’s notice, even if their time in the majors is fleeting.
In the end, while these transactions may seem minor in isolation, they are part of a larger, ongoing effort by the Cardinals to manage their roster efficiently and remain competitive over the course of a long and demanding season.
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