ST. LOUIS (AP) – John Lackey won’t be facing his old team in his first start with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Lackey will pitch Sunday in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Lance Lynn pushed back to start Tuesday night in the opener of an interleague series against the Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals’ other trade deadline pickup, Justin Masterson, will make his first start Saturday night.
The Cardinals are anxious to plug in Lackey, who last pitched Saturday. Manager Mike Matheny also acknowledged it might have been awkward having him pitch against Boston.
The 35-year-old Lackey (11-7, 3.60) pitched the clinching Game 6 in the World Series against the Cardinals last fall. He said it wouldn’t have been a big deal pitching against the Red Sox in his first National League start.
The Cardinals added Lackey and their other trade deadline pickup, Justin Masterson to the active roster.
They also recalled outfielder Shane Robinson from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander Carlos Martinez to the minors before a weekend series against the NL Central-leading Brewers. Matheny said the 22-year-old Martinez, who is 2-4 with a 4.74 ERA, will be a starter in the minors.
Masterson (4-6, 5.51) will make his first start Saturday night.
Robinson is in his fourth stint with the Cardinals, and was batting .140 with two RBIs in 31 games. At Memphis, he was batting .304 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 53 games.
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