Rosenthal to DL with rotator cuff inflammation

Perhaps there was a reason for Trevor Rosenthal’s struggles.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed the demoted closer on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with inflammation in his right rotator cuff.

Left-handed reliever Dean Kiekhefer was recalled from Class AAA Memphis.

The transaction was announced before the Cardinals’ doubleheader in New York against the Mets.

Rosenthal, 26, is 2-5 with 14 saves and a 5.13 ERA in 40 games this season. Rosenthal had a 2.11 ERA in April and May. But since June 3, Rosenthal has allowed 15 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings, an 8.27 ERA, with 14 walks and 20 strikeouts.

Kiekhefer made his major-league debut May 14 in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and has pitched in 11 games this season. He is 0-0 with a 5.73 ERA.

Kiekhefer is 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA and two saves in 23 games at Memphis.

Reliever Sam Tuivailala was recalled from Memphis on Tuesday to serve as the Cardinals’ 26th man. He will be available for the second game of the doubleheader at 6:40 p.m.

This story was originally published July 26, 2016 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Rosenthal to DL with rotator cuff inflammation."