The Cardinals returned Ponce de Leon to Class AAA Memphis on Thursday to clear a roster spot for that night’s starter, Adam Wainwright, and signal what could be a downshift to a four-man rotation for the coming weeks. The Cardinals do not need a fifth starter until the final days before the All-Star break, and they could use three off days in the coming 11 days to rearrange, adjust, or shrink the rotation.
The Cardinals will have to make another roster move on Friday as they ready for the Los Angeles Angels visit to Busch Stadium. Yairo Munoz’s travel from the Dominican Republic was delayed in New York, and he was not scheduled to reach St.