Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Saturday that Lyons wouldn't be stretched out as a starter as he has in past springs and will instead be employed as a late-inning man on a full-time basis in 2018, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

After starting 20 of his 40 outings with the Cardinals over the first three seasons in the majors to so-so results, Lyons has found his niche while working exclusively out of the bullpen for the big club the last two seasons. The lefty was especially dominant while working in shorter spurts in 2017, tallying a 2.83 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 54 innings while saving three games. Though he doesn't have overpowering stuff and looks in line for a correction in home-run rate after surrendering only three long balls last season, Lyons should enter the upcoming campaign as one of the top setup men for newly closer Luke Gregerson. Given Gregerson's unremarkable numbers last season, it's not hard to envision a scenario where he loses the ninth-inning role, in which case Lyons would likely rank as one of the top alternatives.

Lyons agreed to a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

EDGE Analysis

Financial terms were not immediately disclosed. Lyons posted an 11.3 K/9 last season and was effective against hitters of both handedness, allowing just a .275 wOBA to righties (down from .333 in 2016). The back end of the Cardinals' bullpen is wide open at the moment, but Lyons seems likely to fill a setup role to begin 2018.

Lyons has been shut down for the rest of the 2017 season, Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the Cardinals now out of playoff contention, manager Mike Matheny has elected to shut Lyons down ahead of this weekend's series against the Brewers. The 29-year-old appeared in 50 games for the club this season, and recorded a 2.83 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over the course of 54 relief innings.

Lyons grabbed his 14th hold by racking up four strikeouts over 1.2 scoreless innings in Thursday's 8-5 win over the Reds. He walked two.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old southpaw notched multiple whiffs for the fourth time in 10 September appearances. Lyons did give an earned run in back-to-back outings last weekend versus the Cubs for the first time in early July, but he's enjoyed a solid September in which he's logged two victories, converted two save opportunities and posted a trio of holds. His 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 14 holds and 63 strikeouts over 52 innings this season continue to keep him viable in deeper formats.

Lyons recorded the last two outs (including a strikeout) of the 10th inning Tuesday in Cincinnati for his third save.

EDGE Analysis

He only gets save chances here and there, and in fact Lyons wasn't going to come out and pitch at all until Juan Nicasio started showing signs of blowing the game. The lefty may not see many more save opportunities this year, but he's developed into a quality back-of-the-bullpen asset for the Cardinals.

Lyons (4-1) took the loss in Sunday's 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Cubs, allowed an earned run on one hit and a hit batsman.

EDGE Analysis

Lyons got into trouble right from the start, opening the seventh by hitting Anthony Rizzo and allowing a single to the pinch-hitting Javier Baez. That put him on the hook when Rizzo eventually crossed the plate on Jason Heyward's RBI single after Lyons had exited. The outing was the second consecutive in which the southpaw had given up an earned run, a rarity considering he'd put together a 20-appearance scoreless streak that stretched between July 7 and Sept. 1. Despite the recent stumbles, he boasts a solid 2.72 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, along with a 58:17 K:BB.

Lyons gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to notch his second save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the fact that Seung Hwan Oh hasn't pitched since Sept. 2, it was Lyons who got the call in a save situation Wednesday, picking up his second career save and first since mid-June -- and that one was of the three-inning, long-relief variety. The Cards' closer situation has been in flux all season, but Lyons' impressive second-half numbers (0.44 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 26:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings) may have made him the latest contender for the job.

Lyons (3-0) fired a scoreless eighth inning in Friday's 11-6 win over the Giants, recording two strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

The hard-throwing lefty's ERA is down to 2.45 following Friday's effort, while his scoreless appearance streak is now at an even 20 outings. In a season of plenty of late-inning uncertainty for the Cardinals, Lyons has turned into manager Mike Matheny's most consistent option as of late. However, he continues to primarily see hold opportunities as opposed to save chances, but his stellar 53:16 K:BB over 44 innings, 2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP help keep him viable in a number of fantasy formats.

Lyons fired a scoreless eighth inning in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Padres, recording a pair of strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Lyons took over for an ineffective Seung Hwan Oh and impressively disposed of Carlos Asuaje, Jose Pirela and Yangervis Solarte, the latter two on swinging strikeouts. The 29-year-old southpaw has rattled off 16 straight scoreless appearances, allowing a minuscule .151 wOBA and .068 average against over that span.

Lyons pitched the eighth inning against the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing one walk while striking out one in a scoreless frame.

EDGE Analysis

He successfully worked around a leadoff walk to earn his 10th hold before Trevor Rosenthal and Zach Duke combined to squander the lead in the ninth. Rosenthal is reportedly dealing with renewed arm tightness and is set to be examined by the medical staff, leaving the ninth-inning picture in St. Louis murky at the moment. Lyons doesn't throw hard, but he's been able to strike batters out at a 29.5 percent clip this season regardless. He could be in the mix for save chances if Rosenthal is forced to miss time.