Gomber (illness) is on track to "be activated soon, with an eye toward Wednesday's doubleheader" according to manager Mike Shildt, the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

There was talk of a potential activation for Gomber prior to Monday's doubleheader. However, it now seems the left-hander is on track to come off the COVID-19 injured list in time to handle a start in Wednesday's twin bill, with Jeff Jones of the Belleville News Democrat reporting Gomber arrived in Chicago on Monday and was doing some workouts with elastic bands at Wrigley Field. Gomber has reportedly not registered a positive COVID-19 test -- his placement on the list is apparently due to exposure to someone with the coronavirus -- so there shouldn't be any residual physical issues that could affect his performance. Gomber has fired 3.1 scoreless innings across two appearances thus far in 2020, both in relief, but he logged 11 starts at the major-league level for the Cardinals back in 2018 before spending the entirety of 2019 in the minors.

Gomber (illness) could start the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

If he does not start Monday, he would likely start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Gomber did not register a positive COVID-19 test but was at risk after having contacted someone else with the virus, so he was placed on the injured list earlier in the week. However, he is now apparently in the clear and figures to make a spot start next week against the Cubs. With a slew of doubleheaders on tap for the Cardinals this season, Gomber could make several more spot starts if he can keep his head above water.

Gomber was placed on the COVID-19 injured list after contract tracing identified him as being at risk for possibly having the virus, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gomber has not registered a positive test but the Cardinals will play it safe and wi keep the pitcher away from the team as they hope to resume their season against the White Sox on Saturday. With St. Louis working through a COVID-19 outbreak, Gomber joins a crowded group of Cardinals that are on the injured list due to the virus.

Gomber threw four scoreless innings and recorded four strikeouts during an intrasquad game Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The left-hander is shaping up as a key bullpen component after missing all of 2019 with shoulder and biceps injuries, and Tuesday's performance certainly supported the notion he could make an impact as a middle reliever, among other roles. Gomber threw 55 pitches overall Tuesday, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and ringing up first-pitch strikes on 10 of the 14 teammates to come to the plate against him. Gomber worked on developing a slider during the offseason with help from teammate Jack Flaherty, rounding out an already strong repertoire. "I just felt like that was the one thing that I could do better," Gomber said. "The one glare. I've always had a good true curveball, and I just felt like adding a slider or something would just benefit me because I just didn't have anything that did what that pitch did and didn't have any way to give that look."

Gomber, who posted an impressive 2.25 ERA over eight spring frames, worked the equivalent of three innings while facing hitters during the Cardinals' first summer camp workout Friday, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gomber's ability to fill a variety of roles for manager Mike Shildt seemingly gives the 26-year-old southpaw a solid chance of making the expanded 30-man Opening Day roster. Gomber earned the boss's praise for his work Friday, giving the young hurler a solid start to the ramp-up period for the regular season.

Gomber would be a surefire candidate to benefit from a roster expansion up to 30 players, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch opines.

EDGE Analysis

Goold's assessment comes as part of a response to a reader question about which players would be the best candidates to fill out the extra four spots were they to be made available. Gomber was already pushing for a bullpen job were rosters to have remained at 26 after posting a 2.25 ERA across eight Grapefruit League innings before spring training was suspended, and he also has the ability to make spot starts whenever necessary. Therefore, the projection about his job security seems reasonable at this juncture.

Gomber, who generated a 2.25 ERA across eight innings in Grapefruit League play before spring training was suspended, remains firmly in the mix for a roster spot, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gomber made three appearances in exhibition play, starting two of those games and also posting an 8:2 K:BB and impressive 0.88 WHIP. The towering southpaw serves as a versatile relief option for manager Mike Shildt, one that's also capable of making spot starts as he did on 11 occasions over 29 appearances during his rookie 2018 campaign. Rogers notes that at one point this spring, Gomber was in contention for what once was two vacant rotation spots; however, Miles Mikolas (forearm) is slated to now be healthy enough by the time the regular season begins to fill one of those vacancies, leaving Gomber to likely operate out of the bullpen if he does garner an Opening Day roster spot. The fact the likes of Junior Fernandez and Genesis Cabrera were recently optioned to Triple-A Memphis certainly seems to help Gomber's chances of making the cut.

Gomber started a Graprefruit League loss to the Nationals on Tuesday and allowed an earned run on three hits, a walk and a wild pitch across two innings. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

The young southpaw worked up to 40 pitches, 30 of which found the strike zone, over his pair of frames. Anne Rogers of MLB.com confirms the 26-year-old is considered a candidate for one of two vacancies in the starting rotation to open the season, but he could also open the campaign as one of the top arms for Triple-A Memphis. Despite some location issues being responsible for Gomber's elevated pitch count, he came away satisfied with his first taste of game action of the spring. "I threw too many strikes in the second inning -- need the breaking ball underneath. Just little stuff like that that as camp goes on, it's going to get ironed out," Gomber said. "For me, it was just let's get back out there. Let's feel good. And just compete again. Man, it's been a long time. I feel like I've had this outing run through my head for like the last eight months because I've just been waiting on it, so to be able to go out there, finish my innings, feel good after, it's good enough for me."

Gomber, who dealt with shoulder and biceps injuries throughout most of last season, is healthy and working on a starter's schedule this spring, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old southpaw made 11 starts in his only big-league stint back in 2018, and he's logged 102 overall during a minor-league career that dates back to 2014. Therefore, he's eventually expected to hold down a rotation spot at the big-league level, although he presumably has some rust to work off against major-league bats after not facing any last season. Gomber could be a candidate for the newly created rotation spot created by Miles Mikolas' flexor tendon injury, which is expected to keep the veteran right-hander out a month; however, it's more likely Gomber opens the season in a bullpen role or as a starter with Triple-A Memphis.

Gomber (biceps) fired a scoreless first inning during which he allowed one hit and didn't record any walks or strikeouts in his most recent rehab appearance for Double-A Springfield last Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Gomber started the game and fired a modest 11 pitches overall, getting seven into the strike zone. The solid opening frame was a welcome sight after Gomber was hit hard in his rehab debut for High-A Palm Beach last Friday and lasted just one-third of an inning.