LeBlanc (elbow) announced his retirement from professional baseball Saturday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
After 13 seasons in the majors, LeBlanc has decided to hang up his cleats for good. The left-hander will finish his career with a 46-49 record, 4.54 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while striking out 671 batters over 931.1 innings. He played for nine different teams during his career, with his best season coming in 2018 in Seattle. He finished that year with a 9-5 record, 3.72 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while starting 27 games.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Ruled out for season
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) will be shut down for the remainder of the 2021 campaign, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
LeBlanc had trouble recovering from an elbow injury after he was placed on the 10-day injured list in mid-August. Manager Mike Shildt said Thursday that the left-hander will undergo a procedure, but he didn't offer specifics regarding the nature of the surgery. Although LeBlanc is slated to become a free agent during the offseason, he's expected to be ready for the start of spring training in 2022.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Bullpen pushed back
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) saw a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday pushed back in order to ensure he can handle the intensity, the team's official site reports.
There's been no confirmed date for the session, and the ongoing delay in getting LeBlanc throwing again has likely relegated him to a relief role if he does manage to return this season. The veteran southpaw's ability to throw off flat ground without issues on multiple occasions led to an Aug. 24 bullpen session that LeBlanc did not recover well from, prompting the current pause in his rehab process.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: May not return in 2021
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) hasn't recovered well from Tuesday's bullpen session and may not be able to return this season, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The veteran left-hander threw off flat ground twice in the days leading up to the bullpen session, but his progression to mound work apparently didn't go well. LeBlanc landed on the injured list Aug. 13 with a left elbow injury, and the setback could mean he's already thrown his last pitch in 2021.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Throws twice in recent days
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) threw off flat ground Thursday and Saturday, the team's official site reports.
The left-hander is still taking a cautious approach to his recovery despite a scan revealing no structural damage. His return timetable remains murky, but there is continued optimism he'll return in 2021.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Set to throw Thursday
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) is slated to play catch Thursday, the team's official site reports.
Assuming the veteran left-hander indeed completes the throwing session, it will come exactly one week after he exited an Aug. 12 outing against the Pirates after beginning to feel discomfort in his throwing elbow. LeBlanc saw his 2020 campaign with the Orioles come to an early end due to a stress fracture, but he believes the Cardinals' medical staff has protected him from the same fate this time around.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Needs more than minimum stay
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) will miss more than the minimum 10 days on the injured list, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
LeBlanc was placed on the injured list Friday with an elbow issue. While an MRI revealed no structural damage, it looks like he'll nevertheless need to miss more than one turn in the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: MRI results encouraging
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) underwent an MRI on Friday that revealed no structural damage, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
LeBlanc was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow injury, but manager Mike Shildt said Friday that he's encouraged by the results of the MRI. The team is still developing a treatment plan for the southpaw, but he seems to have a chance to return sooner rather than later.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday.
LeBlanc exited Thursday's start with pain in his left elbow and is awaiting the results of an MRI, but he'll at least be sidelined for the next 10 days. Friday's starter Jack Flaherty (oblique) was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: MRI on tap
Rotowire
LeBlanc (elbow) will return to St. Louis on Friday and undergo an MRI after he exited his start after the second inning of Thursday's 7-6 win over the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
LeBlanc was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk before being pulled with left elbow discomfort. The fact that he's being sent in for an MRI signals that the Cardinals have some level of concern he may be dealing with structural damage. Before his early exit Thursday, LeBlanc compiled a 3.12 ERA over 11 outings with St. Louis.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Exits with elbow pain
Rotowire
LeBlanc was pulled from his start Thursday against the Pirates due to left elbow pain, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
LeBlanc lasted just two innings, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out one and walking one. It's unclear how much time LeBlanc will miss, but elbow issues can be quite problematic for pitchers, so a trip to the injured list is a strong possibility.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Fires quality start
Rotowire
LeBlanc didn't factor into the decision during Thursday's 8-4 loss to Atlanta, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks with one strikeout in six innings.
LeBlanc limited Atlanta to a single run in both the third and fourth innings but the St. Louis pen ended up blowing the lead in the eighth. The veteran lefty fired a season-high 85 pitches for the second straight game in posting his first quality start all year due to mostly short outings. The successful start brought his ERA down to an acceptable 4.02, though he owns a subpar 5.36 K/9.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Settles for no-decision
Rotowire
LeBlanc completed 5.2 innings against Minnesota on Friday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks while striking out three. He did not factor in the decision.
The southpaw fell behind when the Twins tallied a second-inning run, but it was the only score Minnesota managed in the contest. LeBlanc allowed at least one baserunner in all but one frame, though he limited the damage against him by surrendering only one extra-base hit. He has alternated good and bad outings over his past five starts, giving up one or zero runs three times but yielding six runs over seven innings across the other two appearances. LeBlanc appears to be secure in his rotation spot for the time being, and he's tentatively lined up to make his next start at home against Kansas City next Friday.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Shaky against Reds
Rotowire
LeBlanc didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Reds, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out five.
The veteran southpaw never settled into the game as Cincinnati got at least one runner into scoring position in every inning against him. Since moving into the starting rotation at the end of June, LeBlanc has lasted at least five innings just twice in five starts, and his 3.27 ERA isn't supported by his 1.55 WHIP or 14:9 K:BB through 22 frames. Until the Cards' staff gets healthier though -- or it gets significantly bolstered at the trade deadline -- LeBlanc's spot seems fairly secure.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Tosses five solid innings
Rotowire
LeBlanc allowed a run on five hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings Sunday against the Giants. He did not factor into the decision.
LeBlanc pitched well in his fourth start of the year. His only blemish on the day was when he allowed a solo home run in the fourth to Darin Ruf which knotted the game at one. The 36-year-old owns a 2.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP but an ugly 9:8 K:BB over 18 innings across his four starts this season and is in line to make another start next week against the Reds.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Takes loss in short outing
Rotowire
LeBlanc (0-2) allowed three runs on five hits and a trio of walks in three innings Friday, striking out one and taking the loss in a 10-5 defeat against the Cubs.
The soft-throwing lefty also hit a batter, and he threw 65 pitches as he labored through his three innings. Combined with his time in Baltimore this season, LeBlanc now has a 4.78 ERA in 13 games, four of which have been starts. A plethora of injuries to the Cardinals' rotation figure to keep him in the mix after the All-Star break, but he'll certainly need to be more competent if he's to remain on the roster once their typical starters return to full health.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Starting Friday
Rotowire
LeBlanc will start Friday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The veteran lefty wasn't guaranteed another start before the All-Star break since the Cardinals have a scheduled off day Thursday, but he'll take the mound Friday with Carlos Martinez (thumb) being placed on the injured list. LeBlanc has pitched well both as a reliever and starter since joining the Cardinals in mid-June, posting a 2.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9:5 K:BB across 16.2 innings.
LeBlanc allowed three hits and three walks while striking out three across 5.2 innings against the Rockies on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.
LeBlanc was one out shy of a quality start Saturday, shutting out the Rockies in his second start of the season. However, he couldn't get any run support to earn the win. The 36-year-old has been an excellent addition to a struggling Cardinals rotation, posting a 2.16 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP across 16.2 innings with his new team. His season ERA is down to 4.24 with 15 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. His recent success bodes well for his chances to stay in the starting rotation.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Gets second turn through rotation
Rotowire
LeBlanc is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Rockies in Coors Field.
LeBlanc was added to the St. Louis rotation earlier this week as a replacement for John Gant, who was moved to a relief role. In his first start as a member of the Cardinals, LeBlanc limited the Diamondbacks to one run on four hits and a walk over 4.1 innings in a no-decision. After he was capped at 71 pitches in that outing, the 36-year-old should be allowed to work deeper into Saturday's start, though pitching at altitude in Colorado is far from a favorable setup for the veteran southpaw.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Wade LeBlanc: Tosses 4.1 innings in first start
Rotowire
LeBlanc got the no-decision in Monday's 7-1 victory over Arizona, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Making his first start of the season, LeBlanc threw 79 pitches, his most in any appearance, and pitched well given the circumstances, only surrendering a Josh Rojas home run in the fifth that prompted his removal. He's now allowed just four runs in 11 innings as a Cardinal, good for a 3.27 ERA, though he isn't a strikeout threat.
