PHILADELPHIA • The blend of an unforgiving schedule, shorter starts from the rotation and a thriving long reliever could lead the Cardinals to get creative with their pitching plans before next month’s All-Star break.
“Never rule anything out,” manager Mike Matheny said.
Twice on the road trip that ended with a loss Thursday, Tyler Lyons had to throw at least three innings to cover innings vacated by the starter. His success – a 2.89 ERA in 9 1/3 innings over his past three appearances – invites discussion of the role he could have in shouldering some of the innings in the 18 games remaining before the midseason breather.