by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/15/2013) Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly made his first appearance since last Tuesday on Monday night against the Pirates. After dealing with a hand injury, he worked two scoreless innings in a 10-6 win.
The right-hander gave up just one hit and struck out one.
Kelly lowered his ERA to 6.35.
No X-rays needed for Joe Kelly
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/8/2013) Cardinals reliever Joe Kelly took a hit off his pitching hand in the ninth inning of Sunday's 14-3 victory against the Giants. Kelly was checked on the mound and was able to complete the inning.
He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after the game that he felt some "slight tenderness" but he will not need an X-ray. Kelly is expected to be available for Monday's home opener against the Reds.
Joe Kelly loses out on rotation battle
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) MLB.com reports Shelby Miller has beat out Joe Kelly for the final spot in the Cardinals' rotation.
Kelly allowed two runs on two hits over two innings of work in Monday's Cactus League appearance against the Twins.
The 24-year-old has a 5.54 ERA in five outings this spring and is expected to serve in long relief to begin the year for St. Louis.
Cardinals pitching battles clear up
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) Cardinals rotation candidate Shelby Miller didn't get off to a good start on Monday in a Grapefruit League outing against the Twins. He finished strong, however, and may have cemented a spot in the rotation.
Miller gave up a run in the first inning but that was all he would allow over 4 1/3 frames. He surrendered just the one run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts and his ERA on the spring is now at 3.94.
Joe Kelly, also in the running for the final rotation spot, pitched the sixth and seventh innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk. His spring ERA is now at 5.54.
Miller may have done enough Monday to secure the starting nod, while Kelly appears destined to pitch in long relief to open the year for the Red Birds. Look for Miller to appear next in a minor league game Saturday with Kelly heading to Arizona with the rest of the club.
The Cardinals have not decided when Miller, if he does win the No. 5 spot, would make his first start of the regular season. It could either come in the fifth game or on April 10.
Cardinals nearing fifth starter decision
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) The Cardinals still must decide who the No. 5 starter role will go to and that decision could come Monday, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Shelby Miller starts Monday against the Twins in Fort Myers and Joe Kelly, the other possibility, will appear in relief.
Miller could take the job with a solid performance, but if he struggles and Kelly pitches well that could change things. With closer Jason Motte's availability in question to begin the year, the Cardinals have extra space in the bullpen for a long reliever, a role which both Kelly or Miller could fill.
Whichever pitcher gets the starting nod will remain in Jupiter to appear in a minor league game on Saturday. The reliever will head to Arizona with the team on Friday. St. Louis has yet to decide if the No. 5 starter will start the fifth game of the season or if they will wait for the turn to come up on April 10.
Joe Kelly trailing in Cardinals' fifth starter competition
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013)Joe Kelly trails Cardinals top pitching prospect Shelby Miller leads in the club's fifth starter competition heading into what will be the deciding game on Monday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Kelly and Miller will each throw Monday against Minnesota, and the decision will be made following the game.
Kelly owns a 4.91 ERA in 11 spring innings so far and has walked five batters against just two strikeouts. Though Miller only has a 4.63 ERA himself, the top prospect's potential is likely the deciding factor.
Expect Kelly to make the Cardinals' bullpen.
Joe Kelly hit hard vs. Marlins
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/19/2013)Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller took the mound for the Cardinals in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. Kelly was hit hard after entering in the fifth after Miller threw four scoreless innings. He cruised through his first two innings before running into trouble in the seventh when he allowed four runs on six hits. Kelly, who is competing with Miller for the final rotation spot, allowed four runs on eight hits in three innings of a 5-4 victory. His ERA is 4.91 this spring.
Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly still battling for rotation
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (3/19/2013) Pitchers Shelby Miller and Joe Kelly are still fighting it out for the fifth spot in the Cardinals' rotation. Both pitchers are slated to pitch on Tuesday, with Miller getting the start. Kelly will likely pitch in relief, though it’s not clear how the innings will be split among the two.
Based on how Miller and Kelly perform on Tuesday, the team could make a decision about the fifth starter shortly after the game. The 21-year-old Miller has made the Baseball America top-100 prospect list in each of the past four seasons. Kelly, 25, doesn’t have the pedigree, but does have the experience. He started 16 games for the Cardinals last season, with a 3.53 ERA and a 4.00 FIP in 107 innings.
Cards' No. 5 rotation candidates to pitch Tuesday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/17/2013) The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Cardinals pitchers Shelby Miller and Joe Kelly, who are competing for the final spot in the team's rotation, will pitch during Tuesday's spring game against the Marlins. Miller will start and Kelly will follow.
Miller, who is considered a top 100 prospect by Baseball America (No. 6) and MLB.com (No. 25), is 1-0 with a 7.04 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in three spring outings (one start), while Kelly is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through three spring starts (eight innings).
Not sure about Shelby Miller
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/15/2013) Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller and his primary competition for the fifth starter role, Joe Kelly, both pitched in the same game Thursday. Kelly allowed just one earned run in four strong innings. Miller gave up three on six hits in 2 2/3.
And then came this fun quote from manager Mike Matheny after the game: "You have a hard time really ignoring what Joe did," Matheny told MLB.com, referring to Kelly's 16 starts last year. "He came in and gave us a great opportunity to win every time he started. He gave us quality starts."
Hmm. Sounds to me like he's leaning toward Kelly, and based on spring performance, you really can't blame him. Miller was looking like a terrific late-round sleeper in head-to-head leagues because of his RP eligibility, but now I'm a little wary of drafting him.
Joe Kelly working on tempo
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/14/2013) Cardinals rotation candidate Joe Kelly turned in a solid performance Thursday afternoon against the Braves. Kelly, who made his third Grapefruit League start, went past two innings of work for the first time this spring. He cruised through four innings, allowing just three hits and an earned run in a 5-4 victory. He stuck out one and did not walk a batter.
Kelly, who walked five combined in his first two appearances, chose to work on his tempo against the Braves, which had been a bit slower in his first two appearances. He is competing with Shelby Miller for the final spot in the rotation.
Manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com Thursday that he is not ready to announce the fifth starter and could allow Miller and Kelly to pitch again before he makes his decision.
"Today wasn't a drop-dead, have-to-make-a-decision day," Matheny said. "Just take in more information and another opportunity to go out there. I thought they both did the most with it."
Kelly not great against Yanks
(3/7/2013) Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly, auditioning for a role in the starting rotation, had an uneven day against the Yankees on Thursday. Kelly pitched two innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks. He hit a batter and struck one out, throwing 24 of his 46 pitches for strikes.
Kelly untouched in first audition
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/1/2013) Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly fired two scoreless innings during his first Grapefruit League appearance in St. Louis' matchup against Houston on Friday. Kelly, considered a darkhorse candidate for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, issued two walks and failed to register a strikeout.
Kelly in mix for Cards' rotation
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/5/2013) The Cardinals announced Tuesday starting pitcher Chris Carpenter is unlikely to pitch this season because of continued problems with his right shoulder, arm and neck. His absence likely means Lance Lynn has secured a spot in the rotation, with Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal figuring into the mix for the final spot in the rotation, if the team doesn't add any outside help.
