“Top shelf,” pitching coach Mike Maddux said. “He can do things with the ball that a lot of people can’t. He’s not only tough to hit, he’s tough to catch. The ball does dart. He’s got life on the high fastball, the four-seamer. He’s got a lot of bottom on the sinker. His cutter has hop on it. Slider has depth, width. And he mixes in a curveball from time to time and you go, ‘What was that?’ His changeup – when it comes out right it’s as good as anybody’s.”
The Cardinals’ bullpen, still backstopped by Bud Norris at closer, allowed two home runs but Norris held in the ninth to complete a four-game sweep of the Reds.