Cardinal fans have reason to be excited, even as Wacha hits the DL

Right-hander Alex Reyes, the St. Louis Cardinals’ top pitching prospect, had his contract purchased by the team Tuesday afternoon after it placed Michael Wacha on the disabled list with right-shoulder inflammation.

To make room for Reyes on their 40-man roster, the Cardinals transferred catcher Brayan Pena to the 60-day disabled list. Pena still is battling inflammation in his left knee.

Reyes, 21, has long been considered the Cardinals’ top pitching prospect in a group that’s included Marco Gonzales and Luke Weaver. This season, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Reyes is 2-3 with a 4.96 ERA in 14 starts at Class AAA Memphis, with 93 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings.

Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak told reporters Tuesday that Weaver will pitch Saturday against the Cubs. Weaver, the Cardinals’ first-round draft pick in 2014, made his Triple-A debut Monday and threw six shutout innings. He was 6-3 with a 1.40 ERA in 12 starts at Class AA Springfield, walking 10 and striking out 88 in 77 innings.

Last November, Reyes was suspended 50 games for testing positive for the use of marijuana. It was his second offense. Reyes apologized to the Cardinals and to fans during the Winter Warm-Up in January.

Reyes signed with the Cardinals as a nondrafted free agent Feb. 3, 2012, out of Elizabeth High School in New Jersey. The native of the Dominican Republic struck out four of the five batters he faced pitching for the World Team in the Futures Games on July 10 in San Diego.

Reyes, who will wear No. 61, is 20-21 with a 3.50 ERA in 69 career starts. He has 449 strikeouts in 334 1/3 innings.

Reyes last pitched Saturday, meaning he will be ready to pitch any of the Cardinals’ four games in Chicago over the weekend. The series begins Thursday.

Reyes, however, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.

Wacha, who is 7-7 with a 4.45 ERA this season, received a no-decision Monday in the Cardinals’ dramatic 5-4 victory over Cincinnati. Wacha allowed four runs on six hits in five innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Cardinal fans have reason to be excited, even as Wacha hits the DL."