The St. Louis Cardinals are set to begin a series against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night. Before the game, St. Louis announced two roster moves. The Cardinals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Max Rajcic from Triple-A and designated right-handed pitcher Chris Roycroft for assignment.
Roycroft, 28, made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Cardinals. He has spent parts of seasons with the big league ball club since the ’24 campaign. So far in 2026, Roycroft has pitched to a forgettable 15.19 ERA across seven outings out of the bullpen.
At only 28 years old, Roycroft could draw the interest of teams in need of bullpen help. It would not be surprising to see him receive another big league opportunity.
Rajcic, 24, is set to make his MLB debut after getting promoted from Triple-A. He previously worked as a starter at the minor league level, but he has accepted a bullpen role this year. Through 26 outings (only one start) at Triple-A in 2026, Rajcic has turned in a stellar 2.88 ERA. He certainly seems to be ready for the big leagues.
The Cardinals’ biggest overall need is pitching. They have performed well and appear to be a contender, but it would not be surprising to see the Cardinals look to trade for a starter or two before the deadline.
St. Louis clearly has options it can turn to at the minor league level, though. Perhaps Rajcic will play an impactful role out of the bullpen.
The Cardinals’ game against the Royals on Thursday night is scheduled for 7:40 PM EST.
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