Andrew

Kittredge

Ryan Helsley had this one off after throwing 39 pitches the previous two days, and Kittredge got the nod over Jojo Romero in his place. Kittredge has a 3.60 ERA in 30 innings out of the St. Louis bullpen.

The Cardinals just acquired Kittredge from the Rays last week for OF Richie Palacios. The 33-year-old Kittredge posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio over 11 2/3 innings with the Rays in 2023 after coming back from Tommy John surgery. In 2022, Kittredge registered a 3.15 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 14/2 K/BB ratio in 20 innings before getting hurt, so he figures to provide a boost for the Cardinals’ pen.

As anticipated, the Cardinals add some bullpen help by dealing once again from their excess of outfielders. Kittredge, 33, registered a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio over 11 2/3 innings with the Rays during the 2023 campaign . He’s also accumulated 15 saves over the past four seasons with the Rays, so he does have some experience in the ninth inning. Expect him to settle into a setup role in the seventh or eighth inning to begin his tenure with the Cardinals.

Sherman notes that outfielder Richie Palacios would be heading to the Rays as part of the deal. The Cardinals are intent on improving the back-end of their bullpen, and Kittredge would certainly help the cause. The 33-year-old hurler posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio over 11 2/3 innings with the Rays in 2023. Stay tuned.

The Rays have already shed the arbitration-eligible guys they didn’t want, including Christian Bethancourt, Jalen Beeks and Josh Fleming. Andrew Kittredge was probably their closest cut, but it makes sense to pay him $2 million-$2.5 million in the hopes that he’ll return to 2021 form after Tommy John surgery.

It didn’t take long for the 33-year-old hurler to factor into the late-inning mix for the Rays, as this outing represented his 2023 season debut after a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery. He made it look easy also, needing just 12 pitches to retire Mike Moustakas, Logan O’Hoppe and Mickey Moniak in order. Keep in mind though, Pete Fairbanks worked the ninth inning in a tied game — the usage that’s typically reserved for a close. Expect Kittredge to see the occasional save opportunity, but he’s not an imminent threat to usurp the gig altogether.

The 33-year-old is making his return to the Tampa Bay bullpen after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. Kittredge made 15 appearances out of the bullpen in the minor leagues, including throwing 12 1/3 innings in Triple-A where he posted a 5.40 ERA. The veteran has been a crucial component of the Tampa Bay bullpen over the years with a 3.68 ERA over six seasons. He figures to work his way slowly back into high leverage situations. Hector Perez was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Kittredge.

Perez was called up on Wednesday and allowed one run on three hits in 1/3 of an inning. He was then designated for assignment on Thursday to make room for Andrew Kittredge, who was being activated off the 60-day Injured List. Perez had a 4.08 ERA and a 69/30 K/BB ratio in 53 innings for Triple-A Durham and could be claimed by another team in need of bullpen help.

It sounds like Kittredge will join the Rays for Friday’s series opener in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old veteran reliever is on the precipice of returning from last year’s Tommy John surgery and has made 15 relief appearances on his minor league rehab assignment over the last few weeks.

Kittredge, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, needed just ten pitches to get three outs in his latest rehab appearance. The 33-year-old appears close to returning to Tampa Bay’s bullpen.