JUPITER, Fla. — The list of players who have had an impressive spring for the Cardinals has to begin with Victor Scott II and Alec Burleson.
The next name on that list needs to be Zack Thompson.
Thompson worked four innings without allowing a hit on Wednesday in what turned out to be a 1-1 tie against the Twins in Fort Myers. The only baserunner he allowed came on a walk and Thompson finished with five strikeouts.
The effort reduced Thompson’s ERA for the spring to 2.25. In 12 innings this spring Thompson has allowed only five hits and four walks, striking out 11.
What the Cardinals will have to decide over the final two weeks of spring training is how they will use Thompson in the regular season. Based on his performance this spring, he could either fill in for Sonny Gray in the rotation to start the season if Gray isn’t ready to pitch as he recovers from a hamstring injury, or Thompson could be a sixth starter, if the Cardinals decide they need to give their other starters an extra day of rest in the first week of the season.
Thompson, who has been competing with Matthew Liberatore, also could shift to the bullpen and be used as a reliever where he also had success last season.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
High: Dylan Carlson hit his first home run of the spring.
Low: The Cardinals were held to just four hits and had only six baserunners in the game.
At the plate: Scott got the start again in center field and went 1-of-3, leading off the game with an infield single … Burleson had a double in his three at-bats while serving as the designated hitter … Scott is now hitting .367 while Burleson has a .400 average for the spring … Carlson played left field and his home run in the seventh inning broke up a scoreless tie … The Cardinals only other hit was a single by Ivan Herrera.
On the mound: The only Minnesota run scored against Riley O’Brien, the first run he has allowed in six innings this spring … John King, Ryan Fernandez, Andre Pallante and Nick Robertson each worked a scoreless inning of relief.
Worth noting: Gray is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Thursday and the Cardinals have not ruled out him returning in time to make his scheduled start on opening day March 28 in Los Angeles … Kyle Gibson pitched a simulated game on Wednesday in Jupiter, throwing against many of the Cardinals regulars, the equvilant of a five-inning performance.
Up next: The Cardinals will be back in Jupiter on Thursday to host the Mets. Lance Lynn will make his second start of the spring.