Cards Call Up Woodford, Option Nootbaar to AAA

Today, the Cardinals brought back right-hander Jake Woodford from Triple-A Memphis to make the start tonight vs. the Cubs.

St. Louis had previously sent Woodford down in order to stretch him out as a starter and plug a hole left by various injuries to some of the team’s top starters, at least until some of them come back or St. Louis makes a move for a pitcher at the deadline, if that’s the route they decide to take. In each of his last two starts in Memphis, Woodford has gone five innings and allowed just one earned run.

Prior to being sent down, Woodford was used predominantly as a long-man. He’s 1-1 on the year at the big league level, but a rocky June saw his ERA climb to 4.62.

Tonight, the Cardinals have a chance to reach the .500 mark for the first time since June 22, before they lost two games in Detroit. Woodford will be opposed by Alec Mills, who’s 4-2 with a 4.84 ERA.

To make room for Woodford on the active roster, St. Louis optioned outfielder Lars Nootbaar to Memphis.

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