Cardinals make injury roster moves ahead of Royals matchup

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Cardinals make injury roster moves ahead of Royals matchup

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints
By Josh Davis, ClutchPoints | Last updated May 16, 2026 1:59 PM ET

The St. Louis Cardinals adjusted their pitching staff on Saturday morning ahead of another matchup vs. the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium, announcing a pair of roster moves as the club continues managing its bullpen during a strong early-season run.

The Cardinals entered Saturday at 26-18 after outlasting the Royals in Friday night’s 11-inning opener and have continued playing strong baseball, winning 12 of their last 20 games. St. Louis currently sits tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for second place in the National League Central, 2.5 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs, making bullpen depth increasingly important during the competitive early-season race.

The Cardinals activated right-hander Matt Pushard from the 15-day injured list after he recovering from right knee patellar tendinitis. He had been missing time since late March before completing a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis.

The Cardinals announced the transactions on their official X, formerly Twitter, ahead of Saturday’s clash.

“RHP Matt Pushard (right knee patellar tendinitis) has been activated from the 15-day IL.

LHP Jared Shuster has been designated for assignment.”

RHP Matt Pushard (right knee patellar tendinitis) has been activated from the 15-day IL.

LHP Jared Shuster has been designated for assignment. pic.twitter.com/cH5rPdFR4j

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 16, 2026

Pushard’s return gives St. Louis another available right-handed option in the bullpen as the team continues navigating the physical demands of the season. The Cardinals have relied heavily on pitching depth throughout the opening months while remaining near the top of the division standings.

To create room on the roster, the Cardinals designated left-hander Jared Shuster for assignment before Game 2 of the interleague series. The move provides additional flexibility for the pitching staff while allowing the Cardinals to evaluate bullpen options moving forward.

The roster adjustments could influence bullpen usage throughout the remainder of the weekend series with Kansas City. Pushard’s activation arrives at an important time as the Cardinals attempt to continue building momentum during one of the stronger starts in the National League. With the division race remaining competitive, St. Louis will continue relying heavily on its pitching depth to maintain consistency throughout the demanding early portion of the season.

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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