Cards shuffle pitching staff for doubleheader

ST. LOUIS -- Facing a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a St. Louis Cardinals team that has lost four games in a row made a series of changes to its pitching staff Tuesday.

The team has promoted three arms from Class AAA Memphis and optioned two veterans.

Right-handed relievers Michael Blazek and Keith Butler will join the team for the back-to-back games, along with left-handed starter Tyler Lyons, who will start the second contest. Lyons will serve as the team's 26th man, an exception granted by MLB during a doubleheader.

Blazek and Butler replace left-handed Marc Rzepczynski and right-handed Fernando Salas. That veteran duo will return to Memphis.

The three recalled rookies have had major league experience earlier this year.

Blazek, 24, will be making his third stint in the majors. He has appeared in four games and pitched three innings this season. Butler, 24, crafted a 1.98 ERA through 13 2/3 innings pitched during his time with the club. And Lyons, 25, has started six games in the big leagues. He went 2-3 with a 5.51 ERA in those outings.