Cards hopeful Gregerson will rejoin roster soon

WASHINGTON -- Cardinals reliever Luke Gregerson will likely return to the club’s 25-man roster before the end of their seven-game trip through Washington and Chicago, manager Mike Shildt said before Wednesday’s game against the Nationals.

Gregerson, who battled a shoulder ailment for most of last season and the early stages of this one, faced seven batters in a live batting practice session earlier Wednesday at Nationals Park.

“Luke came through,” Shildt said. “Stuff looked good, he had some late movement to his ball and some finish to his pitches. So we’ll see how he recovers. Based on that, in the next couple days, we’ll find the right spot to get him activated.”

That session followed an 11-game rehab stint where he allowed two runs in 11 innings across three Minor League levels. The 30th day of Gregerson’s assignment -- the longest allowed by Major League rules -- is Friday.

“I think it was nothing more than, the guys up here reading reports all the time, not actually visually seeing what’s happening,” Gregerson said of throwing BP following those Minor League outings. “I was down there and I threw the ball pretty well, from what I would think. I think it was more of just, for these guys here to get a visual of what was working and why was I getting those results. And I think that I showed them that.”

After signing a two-year, $11 million deal with the Cardinals in December of 2017, Gregerson pitched to a 7.11 ERA over 17 outings (just 12 2/3 IP) last season while limited by his injury. But the 34-year-old’s career track record is a reliable one: He’s pitched to a 3.10 career ERA in 640 lifetime outings.

Gregerson also did everything he could Wednesday to make sure Shildt and his staff could trust their observations, including delivering a message directly to the hitters stepping into the box.

“'The game’s on the line, you guys go out there and try to get hits,” Gregerson told them. “'I don’t care what your approach is during the day today. It’s the ninth inning and you guys need to win a baseball game, so go try to win it.'

“I wanted these to be real at-bats, and I wanted them to know that I was coming at them with everything I had.”

How’s Fowler fairing

Outfielder Dexter Fowler (illness) was out of Shildt’s lineup for a third consecutive game Wednesday, but the manager said he’s on the upswing after having to make a hospital visit on Monday night.

“Dex will take another day to recover. He’s feeling much better,” Shildt said. “He’s on the good side of his sickness. He’s feeling better, now it’s about getting some strength back and getting some fluids in him, and getting his energy back.”

Fowler pinch-hit in Monday’s contest, but then felt worse as the night progressed and made an outpatient hospital visit, Shildt said.