St. Louis Cardinals place RHP Jason Motte on disabled list

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Motte, who led the National League with 42 saves in 2012 before missing all of 2013 and the beginning of this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

According to a press release, Motte has a lower back sprain and was placed on the DL retroactive to Aug. 1.

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Motte underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2013 and did not return to the majors until this May 21.

In 24 outings this season, Motte has a 4.91 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 22 innings, with 16 strikeouts. He’s struggled to regain his form, as many pitchers do in their first year back from the procedure that replaces the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow.

In 2012, Motte was 4-5 with a 2.75 ERA and 0.917 WHIP in 67 games and 72 innings, converting 42-of-49 save chances.

He saved the Cardinals’ victory over the Atlanta Braves in the NL Wild Card Game in 2012 and had two saves as St. Louis went down in seven games to the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 NLCS.

Motte first took over the closer’s job for the Cards in August 2011 for a struggling Fernando Salas and saved nine games down the stretch as St. Louis overtook the Braves in September to win the NL wild card berth.

He then saved five games in the postseason as the Cardinals went on to win the World Series.

Motte’s spot on the roster will be taken by left-hander Nick Greenwood, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.

Greenwood is in his second stint with the Cardinals this season. He made nine relief appearances from June 16-July 22 and was 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.368 WHIP in 19 innings, striking out 10.

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