Todd Wellemeyer - Fantasy News & Updates
Todd Wellemeyer - Fantasy News & Updates
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The Cardinals were as hard on Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco as the Marlins were on Wellemeyer, but his ineffectiveness and a pitch-count cap conspired to deny Wellemeyer a shot at his eighth win. With John Smoltz expected to be ready to return to the rotation by this weekend, Wellemeyer will likely return to the bullpen, where he seemed to be finding himself as a situational reliever after putting up a 5.81 ERA in 20 starts this season.
Smoltz downplayed the issue, but he was still appreciative of the chance to get the needed rest. He received a shot of anti-inflammatory medicine to ease the pain he was feeling, and he will not throw a bullpen session between now and when he makes his next start. "At this point, the easy thing to do is give me rest and I'll be ready," Smoltz said. "I'll be fine. I've pitched through all kinds of tendinitis before. But at this point, it gives me a nice opportunity to give me five days off and feel good about my next start." Todd Wellemeyer will pitch in Smoltz's place on Monday.
Wellemeyer, who made two rehab appearances for Triple-A Memphis on Monday and Wednesday, is 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA in 23 games for the Cardinals. "The second one was better than the first one," Wellemeyer said. "I still made good pitches in the first one, I just wanted to make sure that I was around the plate and get a good feel. I figured some stuff out yesterday. Hopefully I can help us out through the rest of September."
Wellemeyer has made a pair of rehab appearances for Triple-A Mempis, giving up four earned runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning on Aug. 31 before pitching 1 1/3 scoreless frames on Wednesday. He's a questionable spot start option when he does return considering he's 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP in 23 appearances, including 20 starts.
Wellemeyer, who has been on the DL with elbow inflammation, will go to Nashville to pitch for Triple-A Memphis on Monday and Wednesday. "Probably 30-40 pitches both days," Wellemeyer said. "Maybe 30 on Monday and 30 on Wednesday." If all goes as planned, Wellemeyer will return to the active roster as a reliever.
Lohse will travel to Memphis early next week to join the club's Triple-A squad for a few rehab appearances and could be ready to rejoin the Cardinals rotation shortly thereafter. Wellemeyer likewise could go on a a rehab assignment in the coming days, but he's probably a little further from a return to active duty than Lohse is.
Wellemeyer, on the disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow, hasn't thrown since he cut short a throw Aug. 9 when he felt something in his elbow. He missed his scheduled start on Aug. 11 against the Reds and was soon placed on the DL. "I'm just going to stay back here and throw," Wellemeyer said. "Hopefully I will be ready for some bullpen [sessions] when they get back in town, and then I will hopefully be ready to go on the next road trip." The veteran is 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA in 23 games for the Cardinals.
Wellemeyer, who has experienced right elbow inflammation, was placed on the DL in a move retroactive to Aug. 5. He is 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA over 23 appearances (20 starts) this season. In a corresponding move, right-hander Mitchell Boggs was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start Tuesday's game vs. the Reds in place of Wellemeyer.
Rookie Mitchell Boggs will take Wellemeyer's start on Tuesday, though Cardinals manager Tony La Russa would not commit to anything beyond that for Boggs. The Cardinals would next need a fifth starter one week later, on Aug. 18 at Dodger Stadium. In the meantime, there's a good chance that Boggs will not only take Wellemeyer's spot in the rotation, but his roster spot, as well. "I think there's a possibility that what [Wellemeyer] needs is going to be two weeks [off]," La Russa said. "Until it's official, it's not smart to claim it is." After a breakout 2008 season, Wellemeyer has struggled mightily in 2009. He's 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA and was recently bumped from the rotation.
Boggs, temporarily taking the rotation spot of the ineffective Todd Wellemeyer, made four starts for the Cardinals earlier this year when Chris Carpenter was injured, but was unable to pitch past the sixth inning in any of them. He has struggled going deep into games but seems to have corrected that while with Triple-A Memphis. He gave up one earned run in his last three starts there before getting the recall. Boggs pitched well enough to fan five batters Friday but missed the zone much too frequently -- 44 of his 99 pitches went for balls -- and will have to cut down on the free passes (27 1/3 IP, 16 BBs in '09) if he wants to stick with the big league club.
Wellemeyer (7-9) has just one win since June 17 and has given up at least four earned runs in each of his past three starts. The Cardinals made the move in part because nine off-days in the final two months of the season means they will need a fifth starter just six or seven more times this season. Rookie Mitchell Boggs will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take Wellemeyer's spot in the rotation on July 31 against the Houston Astros, but a timetable wasn't given beyond that.
Wellemeyer hasn't officially been bumped from the Cardinals' rotation yet, but his days may well be numbered. The veteran righty has endured a rough season, but it's gotten especially bad lately. Over his past 10 appearances (nine starts), he has a 6.75 ERA with 13 home runs allowed in 48 innings. The Cardinals have a number of options if they choose not to start Wellemeyer, but no single most obvious alternative. Reliever Brad Thompson has started at times this year, and long reliever Blake Hawksworth served as a starter at Triple-A Memphis. Mitchell Boggs and P.J. Walters could conceivably be recalled from Memphis for a start.
Wellemeyer was the latest victim of the Phillies recent offensive blitz, as the scuffling righty was tagged for three Philly homers in his 98-pitch outing. Wellemeyer should continue to hold onto his spot in the rotation simply because the Cards have little faith in any of his potential replacements, a list that includes Mitchell Boggs, Brad Thompson and P.J. Walters. He'll take his 5.79 ERA into battle when he locks up with the Astros on July 31.
A nice outing by Wellemeyer, but let's be honest – the Giants aren't one of the game's better offenses, and the Cardinals right-hander isn't one of the NL's most consistent starters. Before Thursday, his last quality start came way back on May 22, which provides just a glimpse of what life would be like relying on Wellemeyer from start to start. Wait to see if he can build on this outing and continue chipping away at that 5.44 ERA before you go playing with fire.
Wellemeyer has a unsavory 7.24 ERA in his past five starts, no doubt due in part to the seven homers he's permitted during that span. He kept the ball in the park Saturday, but the 68 pitches he used to get through just 2 1/3 frames is a concerning lack of efficiency.
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