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Pedro Pages Pedro Pages Playing time will drop
Fri, May 29, 2026, 3:35 PM
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Pages will see a downturn in playing time following the promotion of Jimmy Crooks, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Pages leads the team with 34 starts at catcher this season, but he appears in line to serve as the third catcher moving forward behind Crooks and Ivan Herrera. The 27-year-old Pages is a quality defensive catcher but sports a career .230/.273/.366 batting line over parts of three big-league seasons. |
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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Expected to see steady playing time
Fri, May 29, 2026, 3:31 PM
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Friday that Crooks is set to receive the lion's share of playing time at catcher, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Ivan Herrera will continue to serve as the personal catcher for Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, but it will be Crooks unseating Pedro Pages as the team's primary catcher for the rest of the rotation. Crooks earned a promotion Friday after slashing .262/.412/.567 with 13 home runs this season with Memphis. The left-handed-hitting Crooks is not in Friday's lineup against the Cubs -- southpaw Shota Imanaga is starting for Chicago and Herrera is doing the catching for Pallante -- but he should be in the lineup Saturday. |
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Nolan Gorman Nolan Gorman Sitting against left-hander
Fri, May 29, 2026, 2:16 PM
Gorman is out of the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Cubs, reports Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat
Analysis: St. Louis will leave Gorman out of Friday's lineup against lefty Shota Imanaga. Thomas Saggese will take over at third base for Gorman and hit eighth in the batting order. |
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Nelson Velazquez Nelson Velazquez Contract selected
Fri, May 29, 2026, 1:55 PM
The Cardinals selected Velazquez's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Analysis: Velazquez nearly won an Opening Day roster spot with a big spring but then got off to a slow start at Memphis. However, the 27-year-old earned a promotion after slashing .308/.418/.600 with five home runs for Memphis in May. The right-handed slugger is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga on Friday. |
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Cesar Prieto Cesar Prieto Sent down to minors
Fri, May 29, 2026, 1:52 PM
The Cardinals optioned Prieto to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Analysis: Prieto was promoted in early May and didn't play much, going hitless in 17 plate appearances. He'll see more regular reps at Memphis, where he's slashed .311/.357/.566 this season. |
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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Recalled to St. Louis
Fri, May 29, 2026, 1:51 PM
The Cardinals recalled Crooks from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Analysis: The 24-year-old will join the big-league roster after posting a .262/.412/.567 slash line with 13 homers in 39 games for Memphis. Yohel Pozo was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. It's not clear how much playing time Crooks will get, as Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages have split most of the starts at catcher this season, but Pages' .622 OPS in 125 plate appearances could make him the odd man out. |
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Yohel Pozo Yohel Pozo Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, May 29, 2026, 1:50 PM
The Cardinals optioned Pozo to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Analysis: Pozo has played sparingly this season as the team's third catcher, going 8-for-33 at the plate. His spot on the roster is being filled by Jimmy Crooks. |
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JoJo Romero JoJo Romero Blows second save
Thu, May 28, 2026, 10:41 AM
Romero was charged with a blown save after allowing a hit and striking out one over one inning during a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday. He allowed two inherited runners to score.
Analysis: Starter Dustin May fired seven no-hit frames before giving up two hits to open the eighth, and Romero was called upon to escape the jam. The left-hander nearly did so unscathed, inducing a fielder's choice grounder and recording strikeout before a single and an error brought home two runs for Milwaukee. Despite the blown save, Romero has been cruising through his last 10 appearances, tallying six holds and allowing just one earned run while striking out 12 through 10.2 innings. |
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Joshua Baez Joshua Baez Back-to-back two-homer games
Thu, May 28, 2026, 8:54 AM
Baez homered twice for the second consecutive game at Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Analysis: After going 4-for-6 with two homers and five RBI on Tuesday, Baez cranked a solo home run and a two-run blast Wednesday. Baez has gone deep nine times in May to push his season total to 15, which is just five off his total from last year's breakout campaign. His strikeout rate has been elevated in 2026 at 32.7 percent, but Baez is slashing a healthy .251/.332/.552 with 11 stolen bases in addition to his 15 long balls. Baez has also made six of his last seven starts in center field, and it's at that position where he's likely to break into the big leagues. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Loses no-hitter then game Wednesday
Wed, May 27, 2026, 10:04 PM
May (3-6) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits over seven-plus innings as the Cardinals fell 2-1 to the Brewers. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
Analysis: The right-hander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning until Garrett Mitchell spoiled it with a leadoff double, but after Luis Rengifo followed with a bunt single, May got the hook and had to watch as both runners came around to score. May had to settle for his seventh quality start of the year and a season high in strikeouts, but he remains winless over his last six outings. Since a rough couple starts to begin 2026, he's posted a 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB over his last 53.2 innings. He'll try to get back in the win column in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Rangers. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Cleared for strengthening program
Wed, May 27, 2026, 11:52 AM
Church (shoulder) received clearance from a specialist Tuesday to start a plyometric and strengthening program, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: It's a necessary first step in Church's rehab, but he's still in the early stages of recovery and there remains no timetable for his return from a left shoulder strain. Lars Nootbaar (heels) appears poised to beat Church back from the injured list, which will likely lead to a dip in playing time for Church after he returns. |
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Bryan Torres Bryan Torres Fifth straight start in left field
Wed, May 27, 2026, 9:56 AM
Torres will start in left field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Torres will make his fifth consecutive start in left field since being summoned from Triple-A Memphis. He's gone 5-for-15 with one home run and a 2:2 BB:K in his first four big-league contests. Torres should continue to receive regular playing time for now, though he's likely to head to the bench when Lars Nootbaar (heels) returns next week. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Takes loss Tuesday
Wed, May 27, 2026, 8:49 AM
McGreevy (3-4) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks across four innings. He fanned six.
Analysis: McGreevy had an excellent four-start stretch between April 26 and May 14, posting a 0.75 ERA and allowing just two earned runs in 24 innings, but regression has hit him hard. Over his last two appearances, he's gone 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA and 2.33 WHIP across nine frames. McGreevy isn't as bad as that 8.00 ERA indicates, nor is he as good as his 2.98 overall mark would suggest. McGreevy will aim to bounce back in his next start, which should be scheduled for next week at home against the Rangers. |
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Pedro Pages Pedro Pages Resting Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 6:26 PM
Pages is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: The Cardinals will give Pages a break after he started behind the plate in both of the team's past two games. Ivan Herrera will handle catching duties Tuesday, opening up the designated-hitter spot for Yohel Pozo. |
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Nolan Gorman Nolan Gorman Idle against lefty
Tue, May 26, 2026, 6:25 PM
Gorman is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: The Cardinals will give the left-handed-hitting Gorman a breather while southpaw Kyle Harrison toes the rubber for Milwaukee. Gorman will be replaced at third base by Jose Fermin, who will bat fifth. |
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Ryan Fernandez Ryan Fernandez Rejoins big-league bullpen
Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:44 PM
The Cardinals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.
Analysis: Fernandez has looked sharp during his time with the big club this season, posting a 1.17 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 7.2 innings. He could get some opportunities for high-leverage innings if he continues to pitch well. |
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Finally makes pro debut
Tue, May 26, 2026, 11:23 AM
Holiday (elbow) was assigned to Single-A Palm Beach on Tuesday after allowing five runs with an 11:2 K:BB over 9.2 innings with the Cardinals' Florida Complex League affiliate.
Analysis: A third-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Holiday finally made his professional debut after recovering from May 2025 Tommy John surgery. Slated to turn 23 on Friday, Holiday was seen as a high-floor, quick-moving college pitcher when drafted, but the Cardinals will bring him along slowly as he coming back from elbow surgery. |
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Matthew Liberatore Matthew Liberatore Career-high 10 Ks in loss
Mon, May 25, 2026, 10:18 PM
Liberatore (2-3) took the loss Monday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts across five innings.
Analysis: After recording a career-high nine strikeouts in his previous start against the Pirates, Liberatore took no time in setting a new career best with 10 versus Milwaukee. Despite having the strikeout stuff working of late, Liberatore's results have left a lot to be desired, as he again failed to go six innings for the fifth time in his last six starts and has given up three runs or more in three straight starts and six of his last nine outings. The left-hander has a disappointing 4.76 ERA and 53:29 K:BB across 56.2 innings this season. His xERA of 5.67 suggests Liberatore has been lucky to avoid more trouble. Batters are hitting the ball hard off him with a 91.4 average exit velocity. |
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Ryan Fernandez Ryan Fernandez Set to be recalled Tuesday
Mon, May 25, 2026, 4:36 PM
Fernandez will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis prior to Tuesday's game in Milwaukee, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Fernandez was technically optioned after serving as the 27th man during Saturday's doubleheader in Cincinnati, but he remained with the club and will now rejoin the bullpen. The right-hander has pitched well out of the Cardinals' bullpen this season, posting a 1.17 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 7.2 innings. |
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Brycen Mautz Brycen Mautz Optioned after MLB debut
Mon, May 25, 2026, 4:33 PM
The Cardinals optioned Mautz to Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Mautz made his major-league debut out of the bullpen Monday in Milwaukee, getting charged with two runs over three innings. The left-hander helped keep the rest of St. Louis' bullpen arms fresh and will now rejoin the rotation at Memphis. |
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