At some point, the Cardinals might have to make a decision as to what is best for the immediate future of infielder/outfielder Thomas Saggese, who has fallen behind Jose Fermin in the primary utility role and has gotten just 53 at bats 33 games into the season.

Saggese, 24, is a player without much of a role on the Cardinals with Nathan Church (five homers and three home run robberies) manning left field, Ramon Urias (two homers and stellar defense) serving as the backup to third baseman Nolan Gorman and Fermin getting most of the reps in the utility role.

Saggese, a former MVP of the Double-A Texas League, hasn't played in a game since April 27 in Pittsburgh when he went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts. Saggese hasn't had a hit since April 11 against the Red Sox and hasn't recorded a knock in the past eight games he's appeared in.

For the season, Saggese is just 9 for 53 (.170) with two doubles, no homers and two RBI. Of issue with the Cardinals, Saggese continues to chase far too many pitches out of the strike zone -- something that has contributed greatly to his 19 strikeouts compared to just four walks on the season.

Fermin, and not Saggese, got Sunday's start against Dodgers' left-handed starter, Justin Wrobleski. In his first 13 games, Fermin has contributed .276 hitting along with two doubles, a home run and four RBI. Used as a pinch-hitter late in the game last Monday in Pittsburgh, Fermin ultimately singled through the left side in the ninth inning to plate the winning runs in the Cardinals' most improbable win of the season.

Clearly, Saggese is the Cardinals' break-glass-if-necessary plan if Masyn Winn were to need a day off or suffer an injury. The club would almost certainly prefer to keep standout rookie JJ Wetherholt at second base -- especially after the three spectacular plays he made in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.

So, instead of sending Saggese to Memphis, where he almost certainly could benefit from being in the lineup on a daily basis, the Cardinals are keeping him on the big league roster and rarely playing.