Cardinals recall Ponce de Leon from Memphis to start tonight vs. Brewers

ST. LOUIS – With Michael Wacha on the 10-day injured list, the St. Louis Cardinals needed someone to start in his place Tuesday night against Milwaukee. Daniel Ponce de Leon was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to do just that.

Infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson was optioned to the Redbirds to make room on the 25-man active big-league roster.

Ponce de Leon, whose pitching schedule with Memphis would have had him starting Tuesday for the Redbirds, was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three starts for Memphis this season.

Ponce de Leon, 27, was one of the last candidates for the Cardinals’ season-opening rotation to be sent down in spring training. He made a stellar big-league debut last season, hurling seven no-hit innings July 23 at Cincinnati. The right-hander was 0-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 11 games (four starts) for the Cardinals in 2018.

The Cardinals also announced Tuesday that Tyler O’Neill is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment Tuesday night with Double-A Springfield. The outfielder went on the 10-day IL on April 16 with right elbow ulnar nerve subluxation.