The St. Louis Cardinals optioned southpaw Barrett Browning to AAA Memphis tonight, apparently to make way for the promotion of pitcher Brandon Dickson, as St. Louis Post-Dispatch Cardinals beat writer Joe Strauss has reported. The right-handed Dickson was a late scratch from tonight's scheduled start for the Redbirds.

The 27-year-old Dickson made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2011, making four appearances and throwing 8 1/3 innings, conceding three earned runs on nine hits and striking out seven. He made a brief appearance with the big league club, appearing twice in relief in May and did not give up an earned run. He has gone 5-11 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 starts for Memphis.

Browning was called up to the big league club on June 30, and made his first major league appearance that same day. Since then, he has made 22 appearances, logging 19 1/3 innings and registering a 5.23 ERA. He has struggled through August, allowing eight earned runs in nine innings pitched.

For more on the Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos. Additional MLB coverage can be found at Baseball Nation.