Gordon Graceffo heads back to Memphis

Graceffo returns to the big leagues with rookie reliever Max Rajcic hitting the shelf with an elbow injury. The 26-year-old has delivered a respectable 3.35 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 18/19 K/BB ratio across 40 1/3 innings across 35 appearances at the highest level this season. He’ll continue operating in low-leverage spots for the Cardinals.

O’Brien took over from Jojo Romero with two on and two outs in the eighth and gave up a two-run single to Isaac Paredes that tied the game. He then picked off pinch-runner Brice Matthews to end the eighth, and he struck out two in a perfect ninth. He got the win after the Cardinals scored three times in the top of the 10th. The save went to Gordon Graceffo, who got the final out after Justin Bruihl retired two of three batters in the 10th. O"Brien has now pitched two straight days, so Romero or Ryne Stanek might need to close Monday.

Graceffo will take the roster spot of Matt Pushard, with Pushard heading to the injured list with knee tendinitis. The 26-year-old will be a multi-inning option in the St. Louis bullpen in this current stint.

Graceffo has made the conversion to a full-time relief role this spring and looked sharp in a handful of Grapefruit League appearances. The 26-year-old will open the regular season back in the minors but should factor into the Cardinals’ relief mix at some point.

Graceffo averaged 97.6 mph with his fastball today. He was at 95.7 mph last year in his first stint as a full-time reliever, which was already a nice improvement over his time in the rotation. Graceffo probably won’t be in the closing mix for the Cardinals initially, but he might turn into a factor there in time.

At the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up, Graceffo mentioned that he will be moving to the bullpen full-time and has been focusing on being more intentional with his attack plan since he no longer needs to plan for five or more innings of work. One of those changes has been adding a kick-change that will help make him less fastball-dominant. It will be interesting to see how the new role and pitch impact his success. Graceffo is just 25 years old and the Cardinals don’t have many established starting options, so there’s a chance he could pitch himself back into the rotation.

Graceffo had allowed two runs over six innings for Memphis since being sent down a couple of weeks ago. He has a 5.81 ERA in 31 innings out of the Cardinals pen this season.

Graceffo has been jettisoned from St. Louis’ active roster to make room for recent waiver claim Jorge Alcala to join the club for Sunday night’s showdown against the Cubs. The 25-year-old rookie has posted an underwhelming 5.81 ERA across 31 innings (17 appearances) this season at the highest level.

Romero has two saves in three days for the Cardinals, but he may not be the full-time closer many think he is in St. Louis. After the Cardinals traded Steven Matz, Romero is now the only left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. On Monday, he was saved for the save situation because left-handed-hitters Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman were due up. According to Goold, that won’t always be the case, and Romero will be relied on to get tough left-handers out in the eighth inning if the Cardinals can’t add another left-handed pitcher to the bullpen. Goold reports that “The Cardinals intend to get Riley O’Brien, Kyle Leahy, and perhaps Gordon Graceffo some opportunities to save games if they can forge leads.”

Graceffo returns to the majors for Wednesday’s game against the Marlins with lefty John King hitting the injured list with an oblique strain. The 25-year-old righty has compiled a lackluster 5.11 ERA across 24 2/3 innings over 13 appearances.