Ponce de Leon (shoulder) is scheduled to make the fourth appearance of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Springfield.
Ponce de Leon is expected to follow starter Miles Mikolas (forearm), who is expected to cover around five innings or 70 pitches in his third rehab start. With both Mikolas and Jack Flaherty (oblique) on the comeback trail from injuries and with the Cardinals acquiring two starters (Jon Lester and J.A. Happ) at the trade deadline, Ponce de Leon likely won't be under consideration for a spot in the St. Louis rotation once activated from the 10-day injured list. The Cardinals are seemingly preparing for Ponce de Leon to serve as a long-relief option when he returns, as the right-hander worked three innings in his third rehab outing last Wednesday.