Because of injury (Miles Mikolas) and coronavirus (Carlos Martinez), the Cardinals have had to make a couple of changes to their rotation this season. Now there is need for another course correction.
Righthander Daniel Ponce de Leon, who has had trouble throwing enough strikes lately, also had trouble keeping the ball in the park in the first inning — which he didn’t finish Friday night as the Cleveland Indians walloped the Cardinals 14-2 in a one-sided interleague fray at Busch Stadium.
Ponce de Leon walked four in the first inning, which also was marked by a sizzler to the left of second baseman Kolten Wong, who has made that play before, and a second throwing error in two days by catcher Yadier Molina.