Arizona has claimed Wil Nieves off waivers from Colorado after the veteran backup catcher was designated for assignment last week.
Miguel Montero’s usual backup, Henry Blanco, has been sidelined by a thumb injury and is undergoing further tests to determine if he has a torn ligament.
Nieves is a career .226 hitter with a .568 OPS, which is the third-worst mark among all active non-pitchers with at least 750 plate appearances ahead of only Brandon Wood and Koyie Hill.
Cardinals starter Michael Wacha suffered a strained left oblique muscle during his start this afternoon against the Phillies, causing him to leave in the fourth inning.
Wacha is 8-2 with a 3.20 ERA and a 71/36 K/BB ratio in 84.1 innings across 15 starts this season with St. Louis. To the extent he has to miss some time — and obliques invariably send starters to the disabled list — potential fill-in candidates include John Gant, Daniel Poncedeleon and Dakota Hudson.
