PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —With Miles Mikolas sidelined with a forearm problem, there is a starting spot open in the Cardinals’ rotation and Daniel Ponce de Leon apparently has designs on it.
The tall righthander ran his scoreless innings streak to five Friday when he blanked the New York Mets for three innings on two hits—one a fly ball lost in the sun by right fielder Rangel Ravelo.
Ponce de Leon, who traveled often between Memphis and St. Louis last season, struck out four and walked no one. For the spring, he has permitted three hits and fanned seven.