(Press Release; Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have activated right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly (left hamstring) from the 60-day disabled list and optioned left-handed pitcher Tyler Lyons to Memphis (AAA). The team also announced that pitcher Jaime Garcia has been transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
Kelly, who was leading the National League with his 0.59 ERA at the time of his injury on April 16, is scheduled to start tonight’s series opener in Milwaukee. The 26-year-old Kelly made three injury-rehabilitation starts for Memphis – the most recent this past Sunday (July 6).
Kelly won five straight starts and eight consecutive decisions from July 12 to Sept. 6 last season during the Cardinals second half run and he finished third amongst all Major League pitchers in ERA (1.97) in games played after June 1.
The Cardinals also announced this afternoon that they have claimed catcher George Kottaras (pronounced Cuh-TEAR-us) off waivers from the Cleveland Indians and that he will likely be added to the team’s 25-man roster tomorrow.
Kottaras, 31, owns a .216 career batting mark with 32 HR’s and 100 RBI in 305 games between Boston (2008-09), Milwaukee (2010-12), Oakland (2102), Kansas City (2013) and Cleveland (2014). The left-handed hitting Kottaras was batting .286 with 3 HR’s and 4 RBI in 10 games for the Tribe this season. Kottaras, who had been designated for assignment by Cleveland on Monday (July 7), also appeared in 14 games for the Columbus Clippers of the International League (AAA).
