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Dustin May Dustin May Avoiding injured list for now
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 2:42 PM
May (ankle) will not be placed on the injured list prior to Friday's game against the Cubs, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: May recorded only two outs in Thursday's start in Atlanta before being forced from the outing after taking a comebacker off his right ankle. X-rays were clean and he reported improvement with the ankle Friday, which was enough for May to avoid the IL for the time being. May is tentatively scheduled to make a start during Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers, though he'll need to get through a bullpen session first before being cleared to pitch that day. |
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Gordon Graceffo Gordon Graceffo Jettisoned to minors
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 2:37 PM
The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Analysis: Graceffo has managed a 3.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP out of the St. Louis bullpen this season but an 18:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings suggests rocky days could be ahead. He's being sent out in order to make space on the roster for the return of Ryne Stanek from paternity leave. |
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Ryne Stanek Ryne Stanek Returning from paternity leave
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 2:34 PM
The Cardinals activated Stanek from the paternity leave list Friday.
Analysis: Stanek missed the series earlier this week in Atlanta as he welcomed a new baby to the family, but he's active ahead of the Cardinals' weekend set against the rival Cubs. Gordon Graceffo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in order to make room on the roster. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Reports improvement with ankle
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 1:33 PM
May indicated that his right ankle felt better than expected Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: He had planned to test the ankle out with some catch at Wrigley Field, but rain in the forecast might prevent that from happening. May was forced to depart Thursday's start in Atlanta after recording just two outs because of a comebacker that struck him on the ankle. X-rays were negative and May still has a chance to make his next start, which is currently set to come Tuesday in a doubleheader against the Brewers. |
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Lars Nootbaar Lars Nootbaar Taking seat Friday against lefty
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 12:49 PM
Nootbaar is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The left-handed hitter will get a day off as the Cubs send southpaw David Peterson to the bump. Nootbaar had made 11 straight starts, including three versus lefties, and posted a .333/.409/.462 slash line during that span. Jose Fermin will be in left field for the Cardinals in the series opener. |
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Gordon Graceffo Gordon Graceffo Vultures another win
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:17 AM
Graceffo (6-1) tossed a perfect inning and was credited with the win Thursday in Atlanta.
Analysis: Graceffo needed only nine pitches to cruise through the bottom of the sixth inning, vulturing another win after the Cardinals' offense exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh. While he has managed to post a 3.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP to go along with his six victories, five holds and one save in 35 appearances, Graceffo's 18:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings isn't pretty. |
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Justin Bruihl Justin Bruihl Settling in after rough start
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:12 AM
Bruihl logged 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Thursday's win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Bruihl was first out of the bullpen for the Cardinals after starter Dustin May exited with an ankle injury after retiring just two batters. The team's bullpen wound up turning in 8.1 scoreless frames in a comeback victory. Bruihl got off to a rocky start this season but has settled in, authoring a 1.04 ERA and 15:2 K:BB over 17.1 innings covering his last 13 appearances. |
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Kyle Leahy Kyle Leahy Flexible innings cap this season
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 9:48 AM
The Cardinals have a flexible cap on Leahy's innings this season as he transitions from reliever to starter, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: The team will alter their rotation coming out of the All-Star break in order to bake in extra rest for Leahy. Additional measures will be taken during the second half to manage the righty's workload, though what exactly that will look like hasn't been decided upon. Leahy has logged 81.1 innings this season, which is just 6.2 frames shy of last year's total. The 29-year-old accumulated 144.2 innings in 2022, which was the last year he was used as a full-time starting pitcher, so the curtailing of his workload shouldn't be too dramatic. Leahy's next start is scheduled to come Saturday at Wrigley Field. |
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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Breakout campaign continues
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 10:48 PM
Walker went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Thursday's 11-5 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: The four RBI were Walker's most since June 10 and also marked his fourth game this year with at least four RBI. After struggling to find his footing in the major leagues in his prior three seasons, the dynamic 24-year-old outfielder has been a force in St. Louis' lineup this year. Walker has been a five-category contributor for fantasy managers as well, slashing a potent .291/.346/.519 with 19 homers, 63 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 49 runs scored. |
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Dustin May Dustin May X-rays come back negative
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 10:12 PM
X-rays on May's injured right ankle came back negative Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: May said his ankle/shin area is "soft" and painful, per Goold, indicating it will be a pain tolerance and swelling issue moving forward. The right-hander was struck by a line drive off the bat of Dominic Smith in the bottom of the first inning of Thursday's start versus Atlanta, and May was pulled from the game a few batters later after allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout while recording just two outs on 34 pitches. The St. Louis bullpen covered 8.1 frames, yielding a combined three hits and one walk in an 11-5 victory. It's unclear at this point if May will be able to make his next scheduled start. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Exits early with ankle injury
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 7:25 PM
May exited Thursday's start against Atlanta in the first inning with a right ankle contusion, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: May was making his first start since June 21 after his last turn in the rotation was skipped due to the right-hander dealing with back tightness. May struggled out of the gate Thursday, allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base before he was able to get Michael Harris looking for a strikeout. After Mauricio Dubon notched an RBI single in the next at-bat, Dominic Smith hit a 91.6 mph line drive up the middle and it hit off May's right ankle and rolled into foul territory for a double. May was able to remain in the contest for three more batters, but he was ultimately lifted for Justin Bruihl with two outs in the frame. May finished his day having allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning. |
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JoJo Romero JoJo Romero Piling up holds
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 1:35 PM
Romero leads all of baseball with 20 holds this season.
Analysis: While the left-handed reliever has been valuable for leagues that have holds as a category, he's trended in the wrong direction since the beginning of June in yielding eight runs over 10.1 innings. Romero is the only trusted lefty reliever the Cardinals have, so he should continue to stay busy, though the impending free agent will be a trade candidate this month. |
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Red-hot since promotion to Double-A
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 1:24 PM
Baez is 10-for-25 with five home runs in seven games since being promoted from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield.
Analysis: After struggling in April, Baez has put together a robust .275/.333/.617 batting line with 16 home runs in 41 games since the beginning of May. He's already up to a career-high 19 long balls between the two stops, which is five more than he hit all of last season. Though he's seen most of his action at shortstop, the 21-year-old Baez has also played some second base and third base. |
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Cooper Hjerpe Cooper Hjerpe Returns from 60-day IL
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 11:47 AM
Double-A Springfield activated Hjerpe (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Hjerpe had Tommy John surgery last April and has completed a rehab assignment, allowing four runs with a 9:3 K:BB over 8.2 innings covering five starts between Single-A Palm Beach and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The left-hander struck out four over three scoreless frames in the FCL his last time out and will continue to get stretched out in the Springfield rotation. Hjerpe is on the Cardinals' 40-man roster and should move up to Triple-A Memphis before long if he's pitching well. A major-league debut during the second half is possible. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Another quality start in loss
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:08 PM
McGreevy (3-7) took the loss Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: McGreevy has now gone nine straight outings without a win despite logging quality starts in five of his last six outings, posting a 3.34 ERA in that span (35 innings). Overall, the right-hander sports a strong 3.12 ERA this season with a 1.11 WHIP and 60:22 K:BB across 17 starts (95.1 innings). McGreevy is currently slated to face the Brewers at home his next time out. |
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Nelson Velazquez Nelson Velazquez Launches third homer
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:24 AM
Velazquez went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Velazquez put the Cardinals on the board with a solo homer off Martin Perez in the fourth inning. It was his third homer of the year. Since being recalled May 29, the slugger is batting .316 (12-for-38) while starting almost exclusively against southpaws. He is unlikely to earn everyday at-bats, but the Cardinals should continue rotating him into the lineup in place of Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar or Nathan Church whenever they face a left-handed starter. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Sitting against left-hander
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 2:37 PM
Burleson is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest in Atlanta.
Analysis: Burleson was hitless in the Cardinals' last series versus the Marlins and the left-handed batter is slashing only .183/.212/.237 versus southpaws this season, so he will take a seat as Atlanta sends lefty Martin Perez to the bump. It's the second straight time that Burleson has been absent from the lineup against a left-hander. Blaze Jordan will slide over to first base, and Jose Fermin will handle third base. |
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Ryan Fernandez Ryan Fernandez Activated from injured list
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 2:15 PM
The Cardinals activated Fernandez (back) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Fernandez has been shelved for all of June due to with lower-back pain, but he's ready to go after making four rehab appearances with Triple-A Memphis. The righty reliever has been terrific in his brief time with the Cardinals this season, putting up a 1.86 ERA and 17:5 K:BB over 9.2 frames. |
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Ryne Stanek Ryne Stanek Goes on paternity list
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 2:13 PM
The Cardinals placed Stanek on the paternity leave list Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Stanek will likely miss the entire three-game series in Atlanta before rejoining the St. Louis bullpen this weekend at Wrigley Field versus the Cubs. Ryan Fernandez (back) has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list to absorb Stanek's roster spot. |
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Breaking through in June
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 12:33 PM
Smith is slashing .370/.460/.658 with five home runs, 10 stolen bases and an 11:17 BB:K in 20 games with Single-A Palm Beach in June.
Analysis: Acquired from the Orioles in April in exchange for left-handed reliever Nick Raquet, Smith had little-to-no prospect pedigree coming into the season, and he slashed only .200/.339/.300 through the end of May. However, the 22-year-old has broken through in June and could prove to be a sneaky trade acquisition for the Cardinals. Smith has been deployed in a super utility role with Palm Beach, making starts at every position other than first base, catcher and pitcher. |
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