Thompson (undisclosed) was reinstated from Triple-A Memphis' 7-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The left-hander has been sidelined nearly a month by an unspecified injury, but he's now healthy and ready to rejoin the Redbirds. Thompson has a 9.53 ERA and 20:8 K:BB over 17 innings for the Cardinals this season and has a 4.17 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 54:35 K:BB in 11 outings at Triple-A.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Lands on Triple-A IL
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Triple-A Memphis placed Thompson on its 7-day injured list Monday with an unspecified injury.
Since the Cardinals sent him back to Triple-A in late April, Thompson has filled a spot in the Memphis rotation, compiling a 4.17 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 54:35 K:BB in 45.1 innings. Though finding strike zone has been a consistent problem for Thompson throughout his professional career, an injury could be at the root of why he was more wild than usual in his most recent Triple-A start Friday, when he walked six batters over three innings. Thompson is without a clear timeline for a return from the IL.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Starting Wednesday at Triple-A
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Thompson is scheduled to start for Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democratreports.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol named the left-hander as a candidate to start Saturday against the Cubs, but it appears he'll remain in the minor-league rotation. Thompson could still be an option for St. Louis if Wednesday's outing is a brief one, but the organization seems more likely to go in another direction at this point.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Option for Saturday's start
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Thompson is a candidate to start Saturday versus the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
It sounds like the decision will come down to either Thompson or Andre Pallante, although the team doesn't appear close to making that call. Thompson was sent down last month after posting a 9.53 ERA over five appearances (two starts). He's managed to put up a 1.84 ERA in 14.2 frames with Triple-A Memphis, although that's come with a 14:13 K:BB.
The Cardinals optioned Thompson to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Thompson broke camp with the Cardinals in a starting role, but he was moved to the bullpen upon Sonny Gray's return from the injured list earlier this month after giving up eight earned runs over 10.1 innings between his first two turns through the rotation. The left-hander didn't adapt well to the shift to a relief role, as he produced a 13.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB in 6.2 innings across his three appearances out of the bullpen before St. Louis opted to send him to the minors. Thompson will likely slot into the rotation as he heads to Memphis.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Set to lose rotation spot
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Thompson is expected to lose his rotation spot and move to the bullpen with Sonny Gray (hamstring) on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Rather than sending Gray out for a minor-league rehab assignment after he tossed 54 pitches in a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, the Cardinals saw enough from the veteran right-hander to feel comfortable having him return from the IL for his next outing. According to Jones, Thompson won't be available out of the bullpen Sunday against the Marlins or in Monday's series opener with the Phillies just in case Gray suffers a setback leading up to Tuesday's game, but Thompson looks like he'll be headed for a relief role before long. Since he isn't yet fully ramped up, Gray is expected to be limited to 65 pitches Tuesday, so Thompson could even be called upon to pitch an inning or two once the former exits his start. After faring respectably upon joining the St. Louis rotation over the final two months of the 2023 campaign, Thompson has struggled to carry any momentum into 2024. Over his first two starts, Thompson has given up eight earned runs on 11 hits and six walks while striking out nine over 10.1 innings.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Struggles with control in loss
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Thompson (0-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Padres, surrendering three runs on five hits and four walks across five innings. He struck out five.
Thompson was consistently in trouble Wednesday, allowing a runner to reach or cross second base in each of the first four innings, including a solo home run by Kyle Higashioka in the fourth. He was also picked on by baserunners, giving up three stolen bases on the day. With Sonny Gray (hamstring) on the brink of beginning a rehab stint with Triple-A Memphis, it appears Thompson will only get one or two more turns in the rotation. He's tentatively scheduled for another tough draw against the Phillies next week after opening up the campaign facing the Dodgers and Padres.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Falls to Dodgers
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Thompson dropped to 0-1 in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers after striking out four while allowing five earned runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.
All five of the runs charged to Thompson came via home runs, as the left-hander gave up solo homers in the first and second innings before Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run shot in the fourth. Thompson went 5-7 last season with a 4.48 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB across 66.1 innings. The southpaw figures to head back to the bullpen, or Triple-A Memphis, when Sonny Gray (hamstring) returns from the IL.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced Friday that Thompson will be a member of the club's season-opening rotation, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Veteran Sonny Gray (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, opening the door for Thompson to earn a rotation spot. The southpaw pitched well during spring training with a 2.81 ERA and 14:6 K:BB across 16 innings, but Thompson will likely only get a few starts to stake his claim to a more permanent rotation spot since Gray isn't expected to have a lengthy absence.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Competing for rotation spot
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Thompson allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three without walking a batter in Saturday's Grapefruit league start versus the Astros.
Thompson and Matthew Liberatore are in the Cardinals' biggest battle for the last starting spot in the rotation. Thompson pitched for 2.2 innings Saturday before giving up back-to-back doubles. With Steven Matz coming along slowly after an injury-plagued 2023, there could be room for both Thompson and Liberatore in the Cardinals' projected early season six-man rotation, but both of them have shown some inconsistency early in the spring.
Thompson pitched 5.1 innings against Milwaukee on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings. He did not factor in the decision.
Thompson carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth frame but couldn't make the advantage stand up. He gave up consecutive doubles to begin the inning, resulting in the Brewers' first run, then saw the game-tying run cross the plate on a one-out fielder's choice. That tally was unearned due to a previous throwing error behind him, but it was nonetheless enough to move Thompson out of position for a win. His last victory came Sept. 9. This was presumably Thompson's final appearance of the campaign, and he finishes with a 4.34 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB over 66.1 frames, with nine of his 25 appearances coming as a starter.
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Start pushed to Wednesday
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Thompson will start Wednesday's game at Milwaukee, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Thompson had been lined up to work Tuesday's series opener versus the Brewers, but Miles Mikolas will now get that nod so that he can also potentially handle Sunday's season finale against the Reds back at Busch Stadium. Thompson, 25, has registered an overall 4.57 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB in 61 innings (eight starts, 16 relief appearances) this year with St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Yields four runs again
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Thompson (5-7) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Brewers.
Thompson yielded a three-run home run to Josh Donaldson in the first inning and a solo shot to Tyrone Taylor in the fourth. This was the first time Thompson's allowed multiple homers in an outing this year, though he's now given up a season-high four runs in consecutive starts. The southpaw is at a 4.57 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB through 61 innings over 24 appearances (eight starts) overall. He's projected to make his next start on the road in a rematch with the Brewers.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Coughs up four runs
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Thompson (5-6) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings Friday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Phillies.
Thompson got off to a rocky start by giving up four runs in the first inning. He didn't face much of a threat after that and was able to settle in for four shutout frames to end his night. Thompson had allowed three or fewer runs while tossing at least four frames in seven straight appearances before Friday's outing. He'll carry a 4.34 ERA into his next start, which is currently lined up to be at home against the Brewers.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Tosses five innings in victory
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Thompson (5-5) earned the win over Cincinnati on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six batters over five innings.
Thompson looked like he could be in for a short start when the Reds tallied three runs on four hits in the second frame, but the southpaw recovered and didn't allow any additional damage the rest of the way. He needed 98 pitches to get through five innings, going just deep enough to earn his third win across his past four starts. Thompson has been decent during that stretch, posting a 4.29 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB over 21 frames. He's tentatively slated to face the Phillies at home in his next start.
Thompson (4-5) earned the win Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits and zero walks over seven innings against Pittsburgh. He struck out six.
It was the longest outing of Thompson's career, as he closed out the seventh emphatically by inducing a pop-up then striking out the final two batters for a 1-2-3 inning. The win was his second over the Pirates in 11 days and helped the Cardinals stave off a sweep. Thompson will carry a 3.86 ERA into his next start, likely to take place next weekend in Cincinnati.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Goes four innings in no-decision
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Thompson did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks over four innings against San Diego. He struck out three.
Thompson's final line certainly could've been worse, as he was charged with just two earned runs despite allowing nine Padres to reach base over four innings. The 25-year-old southpaw hasn't allowed more than two earned runs through five starts since rejoining St. Louis' rotation, though he's yet to pitch more than five innings. Overall, he's 3-5 with a 3.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB across 39 innings this season. Thompson's currently in line for a tough road matchup with Atlanta in his next start.
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Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Earns third win
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Thompson (3-5) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over five innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.
Thompson plunked Connor Joe in the third inning with the bases loaded to send home the Pirates' first run of the game and later surrendered a solo shot to Ke'Bryan Hayes. Outside of that the lefty was efficient in only his second start of the season and actually struck out four of the first eight batters he faced before going on to log his third win. Thompson has now allowed two earned runs over five innings in both of his first two starts, posting a 10:2 K:BB over that run.
