The Cardinals selected Jared Shuster to the roster on July 7, 2026, making him part of a doubleheader roster move that also sent Bruce Zimmermann off the active roster. The transaction came between games of the twin bill, giving St. Louis a new left-handed arm for the second game after Zimmermann handled the bulk of the first one.
Zimmermann had been added to the roster that morning, then worked five innings and allowed three earned runs in the opener of the doubleheader. The Brewers won that game 4-3, and the Cardinals quickly made a change before the second game began.
Another short stop for Jared Shuster
For Shuster, the move fit a pattern that has already repeated several times this season. He is out of options, which has made him vulnerable to being moved between the major league roster and Triple-A whenever the Cardinals need a fresh arm.
Shuster has already been added to the major league roster multiple times in 2026. Earlier in the year, the first two times he was promoted each ended after two appearances before he was designated for assignment. That same cycle may be in play again, especially with the Cardinals expected to select Luis Gastelum this week, a move that could affect Shuster’s spot.
What Shuster brings
Shuster, a 27-year-old left-hander, has shown a mix of usable results and roster volatility this season. In the majors, he has allowed two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings. In Triple-A, he has worked 27 2/3 innings with an 8.78 ERA and a 6.99 FIP.
Those numbers sit alongside a bigger career picture that helps explain why he keeps getting chances. Across 164 1/3 big league innings, Shuster has a 5.64 ERA, a 17.5% strikeout rate, a 5.2% walk rate and a 41.9% ground ball rate. He also previously logged 149 1/3 big league innings with a 5.12 ERA, a 15% strikeout rate, a 10.1% walk rate and a 37% ground ball rate.
Why the move matters
The Cardinals needed coverage for the second game of the doubleheader, and Shuster gives them a left-handed option who can be called upon immediately. The move also reflects how quickly roster needs can change when a team is navigating a long day of games and multiple pitching assignments.
Because Shuster is out of options, though, this may not be a stable stay. If the Cardinals do move on to another arm this week, Shuster could end up back in the same cycle that has defined much of his season.
For now, the Cardinals have the fresh arm they needed, and Shuster has another major league opportunity.
