HOUSTON -- The St. Louis Cardinals did not make any last-minute roster acquisitions before Tuesday's deadline for a player outside the organization to be eligible for the postseason. The club had pursued a lefty reliever, but its preferred option did not clear waivers to make a deal possible. General manager John Mozeliak said positive reports of Dennys Reyes' health also limited the urgency to add a reliever.
"At this point," Mozeliak said, "this is the club we have to go with."
The Cardinals will make four roster moves before this afternoon's game. Today's starter, Jeff Suppan (groin), and Reyes (elbow) will be activated from the disabled list, and catcher Matt Pagnozzi and outfielder Nick Stavinoha will be promoted from Class AAA Memphis. The club's plan is to add other players, such as Tyler Greene and Allen Craig, once Memphis' season ends.
LOHSE HOLDS, SUPPAN STARTS
Kyle Lohse will throw a bullpen session today, and the Cardinals have him penciled in for a start Tuesday in Milwaukee. Suppan is getting today's start as an opportunity to rearrange the rotation for the weekend series vs. Cincinnati but also so the righthander "can build on his last start," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
Suppan will be used "as needed" for the rest of September, pitching coach Dave Duncan said.
This week La Russa met with Lohse, who allowed eight runs on 11 hits in his five-inning start at Washington, to clarify why his scheduled start is being skipped. "He's in the plan," La Russa said. "I assured him he's not being left out of the equation."
EXTRA BASES
First-round pick Zack Cox, a third baseman, is expected to be named one of the Cardinals' representatives at the Arizona Fall League, even though he wasn't on the rosters announced Tuesday. Cox and two other Cardinals farmhands will be added in the coming week. The Cardinals already placed on the Surprise Rafters club are pitchers Blake King and Brian Broderick, catcher Tony Cruz, shortstop Pete Kozma and outfielder Adron Chambers. Kozma was the team's top pick in 2007. ...
Two Cardinals minor league pitchers were suspended 50 games after a positive test for a banned substance. Both of them, Jean Carlos De La Cruz and Delvi Rodriguez, are with the team's Dominican Summer League program. ...
Mild curiosity described the Cardinals' reaction to the news that lefty Aroldis Chapman joined the Reds on Tuesday. Chapman signed a six-year, $30 million contract with Cincinnati this past winter, and he reportedly sports a fastball that consistently registers at 100 mph or better. "He's got a giant arm," La Russa said. "It's a plus for them. But they were doing pretty well without him."
