Reyes will replace Mulder in Cards' rotation

ST. LOUIS -- Rookie Anthony Reyes will get the first shot at filling Mark Mulder's spot in the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation, starting Sunday against the Pirates.

Reyes, 4-6 with a 4.73 ERA, was optioned to Class AAA Memphis in mid-August after a pair of difficult starts. He didn't allow a run in 13 innings in two starts in the minor leagues, winning both of them, and was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week.

Reyes, 24, who won't be added to the roster until Sunday, is projected as a full-time member of the rotation next year. He said he got away from leaning on his fastball during his earlier stint with the Cardinals but he returned to power pitching in the minors.

"I was just using the fastball and working all the other pitches off that, as opposed to just throwing a lot of offspeed pitches," Reyes said. "That's something they saw that I wasn't doing as well up here."

The Cardinals also recalled right-handed reliever Brad Thompson and outfielder John Rodriguez from Memphis. Manager Tony La Russa said the team would have more callups early next week when Memphis' season ends.

Reyes likely will get a chance to finish the year in the rotation, after Mulder went back on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week with a shoulder injury that has not responded to therapy

-- AP