Wade

LeBlanc

The 37-year-old southpaw appeared in a total of 258 games (129 starts) during his 13-year big league career -- taking the field for the Padres, Marlins, Astros, Angels, Yankees, Mariners, Pirates, Orioles and Cardinals. Overall, he went 46-49 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 6.5 K/9 while also recording three saves.

LeBlanc is headed for surgery after suffering a setback with his injured left elbow late last month. The exact nature of the procedure is unknown, but he is expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2022 season. The veteran southpaw will be a free agent this winter.

LeBlanc got through a bullpen session Tuesday with no issues but didn’t bounce back well the next day. It’s not clear what the next step is for LeBlanc, but Cardinals manager Mike Shildt indicated Thursday that the lefty’s season could be over. “The calendar is the calendar,” Shildt said. “And the recovery period is of a little concern, as well.”

While there’s no structural damage for LeBlanc, elbow injuries rarely require just a minimum stint on the shelf, and LeBlanc is not an exception. The southpaw was placed on the injured list on Friday, and likely won’t be back until closer to the end of August or beginning of September.

LeBlanc underwent additional imaging on Friday after being placed on the 10-day injured list with left elbow soreness. It’s extremely encouraging news for the 37-year-old lefty, but he’ll have to return in a long relief role now that ace Jack Flaherty is back in the Cardinals’ rotation.

LeBlanc exited Thursday’s start with the injury. His departure paves the way for Jack Flaherty to return to the Cardinals rotation on Friday. It’s unclear how long LeBlanc will be sidelined.

LeBlanc lasted just two innings before getting replaced on the mound by T.J. McFarland. He yielded a three-run homer in the bottom of the first then worked a scoreless second. LeBlanc will undergo an MRI, and his status should be updated before Friday.

It seems to be an injury situation. LeBlanc gave up a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning before working around a leadoff single for a clean second inning. T.J. McFarland took over on the mound for the Cardinals to begin the bottom of the third.

LeBlanc allowed three hits, including a game-tying solo homer to Joe Pederson in the fourth inning. He handed out three free passes and only generated one strikeout. The soft-tossing 36-year-old crafty left-hander holds a pedestrian 4.02 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 28/16 K/BB ratio across 47 innings (17 appearances, eight starts) this season. He’s lined up to face the Pirates on the road in his next start on Wednesday night and can be safely ignored by fantasy managers outside of NL-only formats.

LeBlanc was not exactly dominant in this one, striking out just three while walking two, but he managed to wiggle out of his mistakes, outside of an Andrelton Simmons RBI single in the second inning. In 10 appearances (six starts) this season, LeBlanc owns a 3.15 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 27/13 K/BB ratio. This outing out of the way, a home showdown with the Braves shows next on LeBlanc’s schedule.