Most figured virtual sixth starter Tyler Lyons or maybe even well-traveled veteran Jerome Williams would be on the mound against the Marlins come Saturday — if the Cardinals once again deemed top prospect Alex Reyes unready for his major league debut.
Reyes would please the masses. Lyons or Williams would elicit an understanding shrug. Instead Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, with agreement from the front office, made a more head-scratching decision: Jaime Garcia will face the Marlins on short rest.
And pretty much everyone said: "Huh?"
The decision to pull Reyes three innings into his most recent Class AAA start on Tuesday demanded attention.