Cardinals Shake Up Roster After Disappointing Homestand
After finishing a nine-game homestand with a disappointing 3–6 record, the St. Louis Cardinals have made several roster moves in an effort to get back on track. The team managed to win a series against the Dodgers but dropped series to the Royals and Blue Jays. Following a strong May, June has taken a downturn for St. Louis.
Both the offense and pitching staff have needed improvement. The bench struggled in the absence of Jordan Walker, and the bullpen has underperformed, recording a 4.38 ERA in June with just 6.81 strikeouts per nine innings.
In response, the Cardinals made a series of changes on Thursday:
- Recalled OF Michael Siani from Triple-A Memphis
- Promoted RHP Andre Granillo to the major league roster
- Optioned RHP Chris Roycroft to Memphis
- Designated OF Ryan Vilade for assignment
Position Player Moves:
Ryan Vilade, batting just .077 this season, was designated for assignment. He had been filling in as a fourth outfielder after Walker’s injury but failed to contribute meaningfully at the plate.
Michael Siani takes his place. The 24-year-old has impressed in Triple-A, hitting .263/.348/.451 with five home runs, 17 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 33 games. He’ll likely serve as the fourth outfielder and could see additional playing time while Brendan Donovan recovers from a toe injury.
Bullpen Updates:
Andre Granillo, making his first major league appearance, brings much-needed strikeout potential to a struggling relief corps. At Triple-A Memphis, Granillo has posted a 1.82 ERA and a 39.7% strikeout rate across 29.2 innings, with opponents hitting just .159 against him. While he won’t be used in high-leverage situations immediately, he could grow into that role.
Chris Roycroft was optioned to make room for Granillo. Roycroft has had a tough season, with a 6.92 ERA and only nine strikeouts in 13 innings — not enough to help a bullpen in need of more swing-and-miss capability.
The Cardinals now head out on a seven-game road trip starting in Milwaukee. With only one scheduled off day remaining in June, the team hopes this roster reset provides a spark and helps them rebound from their recent slump.
