26 Trevor Rosenthal, RP

Cardinals reliever Trevor Rosenthal continues to be a steadying force at the back-end of the team's bullpen. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 11 appearances (9 2/3 innings), striking out 15.

Rosenthal is on pace for more than 80 appearances, but manager Mike Matheny said he's not concerned about the right-hander, who has a 2.42 ERA and 13 holds.

"It’s a growing concern for all you (media) guys," Matheny said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "At times he’s felt very good and we’ve still shut him down a couple days. He’s one of the physically strongest guys we have. If we find it’s affecting him, we change course. He prepared to be a starter this year. He prepared for 200 innings. We’re not going to give him that. But we’re going to give him an opportunity to help us win. And that’s what he’s been helping us do."

Cardinals reliever Trevor Rosenthal hasn't allowed a run since April 24.

Rosenthal didn't get off to a great start but has thrown 9 2/3 scoreless innings over 11 appearances since April 24. He has added 15 strikeouts over that period. Rosenthal has mainly been used in a high-leverage setup role this year. 

With Jake Westbrook sidelined indefinitely (elbow), the Cardinals called up John Gast to start Tuesday. Gast has been great in seven Triple-A starts this year, but has a spotty minor-league track record (4.02 and 4.09 ERAs in 2011 and 2012). If he has a couple of bad starts, it's not crazy to think that the team could turn to Trevor Rosenthal to fill Westbrook's role. 

Rosenthal started 48 of his 66 minor-league appearances. Last year, he had a 2.97 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts in 109 innings. He was in the running for St. Louis' fifth starter spot for most of spring training. St. Louis has a habit of throwing its pitchers out in middle relief for a season (Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn) before putting them in the rotation, but if things fall apart with Gast, the Cardinals may have a need to skip protocol and turn to Rosenthal.

Gast is unproven and Joe Kelly currently has a 7.71 ERA. Rosenthal's a starter by trade, he's talented, and the team may have a need. Taking a chance on Rosenthal -- owned in 21 percent of leagues -- will, at the very least, still give you a high-strikeout middle reliever. But he has the very rare dual upside of sliding in as a closer or starter before the season is through.