VerHagen (3-0) struck out three without allowing a baserunner over 2.1 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Dodgers.
VerHagen came into the game with the bases loaded and two outs, and he balked in an inherited runner. From there, he was perfect, recording seven outs on a tidy 26 pitches. The right-hander has been solid as a long-relief option for the Cardinals this season, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 25 innings. He's also picked up five holds. VerHagen has allowed four runs in 12.2 innings in May.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Awarded win Sunday
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VerHagen (2-0) earned the win Sunday over the Tigers, striking out three over two perfect innings.
JoJo Romero would have typically been in line for the win, but the official scorer deemed VerHagen more effective in his multi-inning appearance despite entering after the Cardinals took the lead. Over his last six outings, VerHagen has given up one run on three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings. He's been solid for the season as well with a 3.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB while adding four holds across 18 innings. The right-hander fills a versatile role in the Cardinals' bullpen, which has included some setup work early in 2023.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Collects first win
Rotowire
VerHagen (1-0) allowed an unearned run without allowing a hit or a walk in one inning Sunday versus the Pirates, earning the extra-inning win.
VerHagen gave up an RBI groundout to Canaan Smith-Njigba in the top of the 10th inning, but the Cardinals rallied for a walkoff win in the bottom of the frame. Through eight appearances, VerHagen has allowed three runs (two earned) while posting an 8:1 K:BB and three holds. With John Denton of MLB.com reporting manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Jordan Hicks would be shifting to a low-leverage role amid his recent struggles, VerHagen could be an option to see some late-inning work. It's unlikely his usage would lead to many saves, but he's been effective enough to snag some holds.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Solid pitching so far
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VerHagen has allowed a walk and struck out two over two Grapefruit League innings.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reports VerHagen mixed his new four-seam fastball in with his usual sinker and slider. A hip injury ended the right-hander's season early in 2022, and his 6.65 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB over 21.2 relief innings weren't great marks when he was healthy. He remains in the mix as a multi-inning relief option who could also serve as a spot starter, though the Cardinals' rotation has enough depth to weather an injury or two before they'd need to turn to someone like VerHagen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Cleared from 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Cardinals reinstated VerHagen (hip) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
VerHagen underwent surgery on his right hip in early August and may not be fully healthy yet even though he's been added back to the 40-man roster, but he should be close to 100 percent by spring training. The right-hander will be entering the second season of the two-year, $5.5 million deal he inked with St. Louis last March and will be looking to bounce back after struggling in his limited opportunities before getting the season-ending hip procedure. He made 19 appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen in 2022, logging a 6.65 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across 21.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
VerHagen (hip) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.
It was announced Thursday that VerHagen will require season-ending surgery on his hip, so the move to the 60-day IL was no surprise. The 31-year-old inked a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals after spending the previous two seasons in Japan, and he struggled in his return to the majors with a 6.65 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB across 21.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Requires season-ending surgery
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VerHagen will undergo season-ending hip surgery, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
VerHagen dealt with a hip injury for most of the season, and he'll ultimately require a procedure to address the issue. The right-hander made just 19 appearances during his injury-plagued season and posted a 6.65 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in 21.2 innings. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, VerHagen is expected to make a full recovery from hip surgery in advance of spring training.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Throws side session
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VerHagen (hip) threw a side session this week, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
VerHagen recently received a second opinion on his injury, but the evaluation apparently didn't reveal anything concerning as he's been cleared to begin a throwing program. The right-hander has been on the shelf since July 17 due to a right hip impingement, but it's possible that he'll rejoin the Cardinals' bullpen sometime in early August.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Getting second opinion
Rotowire
VerHagen is getting a second opinion on his right hip, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
The injury has been labeled an impingement, but VerHagen has dealt with the injury for months. It's possible he is getting the second opinion to determine if surgery makes sense.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Heads to IL with hip issue
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed VerHagen on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right hip impingement.
Just four days ago, VerHagen returned from a three-week stint on the IL due to a sore right shoulder, but he made only two appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen before succumbing to another injury. His latest IL stint is backdated to Friday, so he'll be eligible to return as soon as July 30. The Cardinals reinstated Steven Matz (shoulder) from the IL in a corresponding move in advance of his scheduled start Sunday against the Reds.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Comes off IL
Rotowire
The Cardinals reinstated VerHagen (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
St. Louis optioned left-handed starter Matthew Liberatore to Triple-A Memphis to clear a spot on the active roster for VerHagen, who will be available in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen as he makes his way back from the IL. Before being sidelined with the right shoulder injury, VerHagen hadn't been particularly effective for St. Louis, pitching to a 6.30 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over his 17 appearances out of the bullpen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Starting up rehab assignment
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VerHagen (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Peoria on Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
VerHagen has been out since June 24 with right shoulder soreness. He's eligible to return from the injured list Saturday, and if all goes well during his rehab, it's possible he'll require just a minimum stint on the shelf.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
VerHagen (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday.
While it's not yet clear how long VerHagen has been dealing with his shoulder injury, he hasn't been particularly effective recently, as he's allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits and four walks while striking out seven in 5.2 innings over his last seven appearances. The right-hander will be forced to miss at least two weeks due to his injury, while Packy Naughton was recalled to take VerHagen's place in the bullpen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Takes extra-inning loss
Rotowire
VerHagen (3-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Rays.
Manager Oli Marmol deployed Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to keep the game tied at 1-1. The Cardinals pulled ahead in the top of the 10th, but VerHagen couldn't protect the lead, instead giving up a walkoff three-run home run to Taylor Walls. VerHagen has now allowed multiple runs in each of his last two appearances, pushing his ERA up to 4.96 with a 1.53 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB across 16.1 innings this year. He's more likely to see multi-inning assignments than closing chances.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Picks up third win
Rotowire
VerHagen (3-0) earned the extra-inning win Tuesday versus the Padres. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in one inning.
VerHagen kept the Padres off the board in the 10th inning, and he was rewarded with the win when Albert Pujols plated the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly. In his last four outings, VerHagen has picked up three wins while allowing two runs, four hits and four walks in 5.2 innings. The right-hander has a 3.38 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 9:9 K:BB across 13.1 innings, but his usage lately suggests he's trusted to pitch in close games even if he's seen mostly middle-relief assignments.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Grabs win
Rotowire
VerHagen (2-0) retired the only batter he faced to earn the win Friday versus the Brewers.
Dakota Hudson was solid but a little shaky with command, running up a 97-pitch total through 4.2 innings. VerHagen was able to get the final out of the fifth inning with the Cardinals leading, and that lead lasted to the end. This was VerHagen's second win of the year, and they've come in his last three outings, sandwiched around an appearance in which he gave up two runs to the Blue Jays. The right-hander has a solid 3.65 ERA, but his 1.38 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB in 12.1 innings don't inspire much confidence in his long-term success. He'll likely continue to see most of his work in the middle innings.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Grabs first win Saturday
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VerHagen (1-0) earned the win Saturday versus the Pirates, allowing one walk and striking out two over 2.1 scoreless innings.
Starter Matthew Liberatore came up one out short of qualifying for the win, allowing VerHagen to earn it instead. Since returning from a hip injury, VerHagen has allowed just one hit and two walks over 5.1 innings. He has a 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB in six appearances spanning 10 innings overall.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Reinstated from 10-day IL
Rotowire
VerHagen (hip) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.
VerHagen spent just over three weeks on the injured list, but he recently made a pair of rehab appearances and allowed a run on a hit and a walk while striking out five in 3.2 innings. The right-hander should pitch mainly in lower-leverage situations for the Cardinals now that he's back to full health.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Another rehab outing on tap
Rotowire
VerHagen (hip) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield on Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
VerHagen made his first rehab appearance last week and will continue the rehab assignment Thursday. He threw 27 pitches over 1.2 innings during that outing and is expected to continue ramping up his workload with Springfield.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Second rehab appearance coming up
Rotowire
VerHagen (hip) is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance at Double-A Springfield during the upcoming week, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
VerHagen is expected to increase his workload from the 1.2 innings and 27 pitches he tossed in his first rehab outing at Triple-A Memphis on May 3. Once he's deemed ready to return from the 10-day injured list, VerHagen is expected to settle into a multi-inning/mop-up role out of the St. Louis bullpen.
