The St. Louis Cardinals have purchased the contract of rookie right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver to make the start in today’s 1:20 p.m., game against the Chicago Cubs. Outfielder Matt Holliday has been placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 12 with a thumb fracture suffered in Thursday night’s game.
Weaver, 22, has made 38 career minor league starts and holds a 15-9 record with a 1.78 ERA over 197.2 innings pitched (39 ER). He has struck out 192 batters and walked just 35 in those starts.
The 6-2, 170-pound Weaver began the 2016 season on the disabled list after a wrist injury suffered during spring training sidelined him until June. He joined the roster of Double-A Springfield where he made 12 starts and allowed only 12 ER in his 77.0 IP (1.40 ERA), compiling a 6-3 record. He was promoted to Memphis (AAA) where he made one start, this past Monday at New Orleans, and earned the win giving up just two singles over 6.0 scoreless innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
The DeLand, Fla., native attended Florida State University and was selected by the Cardinals with their 1st round draft pick (27th player overall) in 2014.
Weaver becomes the 11th Cardinals starting pitcher to make his Major League debut at Wrigley Field and the first since Adam Ottavino in 2010. He’ll be aiming to become the first to record a win in a debut start at the “Friendly Confines” since Andy Rincon did so in a complete game win on Sept. 15, 1980.
Weaver will wear No. 62.
