Whitley signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday.
Whitley was released by the Cardinals last week after holding a 5.19 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 43.1 innings of relief this season at Triple-A Memphis. The 28-year-old has flashed some promise in the past and will try to rediscover it in the Atlanta organization.
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Kodi Whitley: Released by St. Louis
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Whitley was released by the Cardinals on Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Whitley showed some promise in the St. Louis bullpen between 2020-2021, but he struggled at the major-league level last year and posted a rough 5.19 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 43.1 innings of relief this season at Triple-A Memphis. The 28-year-old right-hander will look to latch on with a new organization.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Removed from 40-man
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Whitley was outrighted to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
After posting a 2.40 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through the first two years of his major-league career, Whitley's numbers shot up to a 5.68 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in 2022 over 12.2 innings. Now, it looks like he will have to re-prove himself in Triple-A before the Cardinals feel comfortable giving him another shot in the big leagues.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Back in action
Rotowire
Whitley (undisclosed) has made two appearances since being activated from Triple-A Memphis' injured list last week. He's allowed an unearned run on two walks and struck out three in 1.2 innings.
Whitley figures to remain at Memphis for a while, as he owns a 5.79 ERA and 1.86 WHIP through 14 innings at the Triple-A level this year. He began the season as part of the Cardinals' bullpen and has seen two stints in the majors this year, but he'll need to be more effective to be considered for a call-up.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Lands on minor-league IL
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Whitley (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list Monday.
It's unclear what injury has sidelined Whitley. He last pitched for Triple-A Memphis on June 26, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in one inning. He has a 6.57 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 12.1 innings with Memphis since he was sent down in early June, and he'll be sidelined for at least a week.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Optioned to Triple-A
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Whitley was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Whitley will head back to Memphis after he appeared in three games following his promotion May 26, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two over 2.2 frames. After surrendering one run over his first 8.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, the right-hander has given up seven runs over his last four frames. Although he's struggled recently, Whitley will remain a top candidate for a potential call-up moving forward.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Up with big-league club
Rotowire
Whitley was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.
The 27-year-old has been with Memphis since being demoted two weeks ago, but he'll rejoin the big-league club ahead of Thursday's series opener versus Milwaukee. Whitley has appeared in 11 major-league games this season and has a 4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB over 10 innings.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Heads to Memphis
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Whitley to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Whitley appeared to move into a key setup role after he posted a 1.04 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in 8.2 innings through his first nine appearances of 2022, but he'll end up losing his spot in the St. Louis bullpen after showing a complete loss of control in his last two outings. Between appearances Saturday against the Giants and Tuesday against the Orioles, Whitley issued five walks and hit a batter in 1.1 innings.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Earns second win
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Whitley (2-0) retired the only batter he faced via strikeout to earn the win Sunday over the Diamondbacks.
Whitley struck out Christian Walker to end the seventh inning, and the Cardinals promptly rallied for the lead. Across 6.2 innings, Whitley owns a 1.35 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 4:1 K:BB this season. He's yet to record a save or a hold, but he's pitched well when called upon in a middle-relief role.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Yields run Friday
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Whitley allowed a run on three hits and struck out two in one inning during Friday's 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Whitley allowed an RBI single to Sergio Alcantara in the eighth inning. This was Whitley's first run allowed in 6.1 innings this season. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 3:1 K:BB across six appearances, though he has yet to see much true high-leverage work.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Picks up win Saturday
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Whitley (1-0) allowed one walk in 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday over the Pirates. He did not allow a hit or record a strikeout.
Whitley finished the fourth inning after starter Miles Mikolas' pitch count ran up to 77 through 3.2 innings. Whitley also pitched the fifth, and the Cardinals' bullpen was able to maintain the lead to make him the pitcher of record. The right-hander impressed in limited action with a 2.49 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB in 25.1 innings last season. He could have a chance to snag some wins as the Cardinals' starters stretch out in April, but Whitley isn't expected to see many late-inning opportunities early on.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Makes Opening Day roster
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Whitley has made the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Whitley is set to begin his third major-league season. The right-hander was solid in a middle-relief role in 2021, posting a 2.49 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB across 25.1 innings. He added four holds in 25 outings, but he didn't record a decision. The Cardinals are fairly deep of closer-caliber relievers, so Whitley is most likely to continue pitching in low-leverage situations in 2022.
Whitley fired two perfect innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Monday, recording a strikeout. He now has four consecutive scoreless appearances (5.1 innings) since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Aug. 28.
The young right-hander has quickly coaxed his ERA and WHIP down to 4.02 and 1.09, respectively, with the strong opening stretch to his latest majors stint .Whitley had stumbled by giving up six runs (five earned) over the last three appearances he made with the Cardinals before going on the injured list May 30 due to back spasms, but he's only given up a run in one other outing across 16 trips to the big-league mound this season.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Rejoins big-league club
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The Cardinals recalled Whitley from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The righty struggled with St. Louis earlier this season, posting a 6.10 ERA and 8:7 K:BB in 10.1 innings of relief. Whitley has been effective since joining Triple-A Memphis in July, pitching to a 2.25 ERA in 16 innings with 21 strikeouts and only seven walks. Andrew Miller (foot) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Activated and optioned
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The Cardinals reinstated Whitley (back) from the 10-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
Though Whitley is healthy again after completing a six-game rehab assignment at Memphis, the Cardinals ultimately didn't need to open up a spot for him on the active roster after Sunday's game against the Cubs was postponed due to inclement weather. Whitley could make another appearance or two for Memphis before rejoining the St. Louis bullpen shortly after the team begins its second-half schedule.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Strong pair of rehab efforts
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Whitley (back) has fired a pair of perfect innings during which he's recorded four strikeouts in his last two rehab appearances for Double-A Springfield.
The recovering right-hander was bounced around badly in his first rehab appearance Tuesday, but he regrouped nicely during his subsequent pair of outings Friday and Sunday. Given that he's been on the injured list from over a month at this point, it's possible the Cardinals opt to afford Whitley at least one appearance at Triple-A Memphis before they take the step of activating him.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Lit up in first rehab outing
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Whitley (back) took the loss in Double-A Springfield's defeat at the hands of Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and a walk over one-third of an inning.
As the numbers indicate, the recovering right-hander's first rehab outing was an unmitigated disaster. Whitley did actually get 16 of his 22 pitches into the strike zone and appeared to emerge without setbacks, but he'll naturally look to significantly improve on his performance in his next trip to the mound.
Whitley (back) is slated to begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Tuesday, the team's official site reports.
A previous report had Whitley's rehab assignment starting Saturday, but the right-hander instead threw a live batting practice that day. Having gotten through that activity without any apparent setbacks, Whitley will now take the step of returning to game action for what should be multiple rehab appearances.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Begins rehab assignment
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Whitley (back) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Whitley landed on the injured list May 30 with back spasms. He resumed throwing in mid-June and has now progressed to the final stage of his recovery. Whitley seems likely to get multiple outings under his belt in the minors before returning to the Cardinals bullpen, but an activation within the next week does not appear out of the question. The right-hander posted a 6.10 ERA across 10.1 innings before the injury.
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Cardinals' Kodi Whitley: Advances to mound work
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Wednesday that Whitley (back) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined for nearly a month with back soreness, but he finally looks to be close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. The Cardinals might not have a spot in the bullpen available for Whitley once he's reinstated from the 10-day injured list; he posted a 6.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8:7 K:BB in 10.1 innings with the big club prior to being shut down.
