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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 every day 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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Bryan Torres Bryan Torres Blasts homer in win
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 11:16 PM
Torres went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Torres was the offensive difference-maker, as his two-run homer in the second inning was all the scoring the Cardinals needed to avoid the series sweep. The 28-year-old is hitting .234/.308/.468 with three homers, seven RBI, seven runs and a stolen base across 53 plate appearances this season. With the St. Louis outfield back to full health, Torres has primarily been relegated to a reserve role since June 11. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Secures 20th save
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 11:08 PM
O'Brien picked up the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over Miami. He allowed no hits or walks with a strikeout over one inning.
Analysis: O'Brien had no issue finishing off the Marlins in the ninth inning, retiring the side in order on 15 pitches (10 strikes) to secure his 20th save. The right-hander has been lights out in save situations this month, converting all six of his opportunities without allowing a run across six innings, though he has been tagged for six runs over three innings in non-save appearances during June. Among National League relievers, only Jhoan Duran and Mason Miller (21) have more saves than O'Brien, who owns a 3.93 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB across 34.1 innings this season. |
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Kyle Leahy Kyle Leahy Credited with sixth win
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 10:48 PM
Leahy (6-4) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over five innings against the Marlins. He struck out five.
Analysis: After lasting at least six innings in each of his previous two starts, Leahy was lifted after five innings and 87 pitches (57 strikes), though he was effective enough and received enough support from the bullpen to earn his first win since May 16. The 29-year-old will finish June with a 3.76 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB across 26.1 innings (five starts) during the month. Leahy will take a 4.09 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 67:31 K:BB across 81.1 innings (16 starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Cubs. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Ready to go for next start
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 8:10 PM
May (back) is slated to start Thursday's series finale in Atlanta.
Analysis: May didn't end up pitching this past week after experiencing back tightness coming out of his previous start June 21 in Kansas City, but the Cardinals are already considering him ready to go the next time his turn in the rotation comes up Thursday. Before getting knocked around for six runs over two innings in his outing against Kansas City, May had been St. Louis' top-performing starter for more than two months. In his preceding 12 starts from April 10 through June 15, May went 5-4 with a 2.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 68:18 K:BB across 74.1 innings. |
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On cruise control at Double-A
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 3:02 PM
Molina has tossed 6.2 scoreless innings in each of his last two starts at Double-A Springfield to lower his season ERA to 2.87.
Analysis: Along with that 2.87 ERA, the left-hander has posted a 1.10 WHIP and 82:26 K:BB over 69 innings covering 14 starts this season. Molina has been dynamite over his last seven outings, authoring a 2.06 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 44:10 K:BB over 39.1 frames. Acquired from the Rangers at last year's trade deadline in a deal that sent Phil Maton to Texas, Molina is among the arms to show gains under the Cardinals' revamped pitching development. |
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Zack Thompson Zack Thompson Shut down with intercostal strain
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 2:52 PM
Thompson (shoulder) has been shut down due to an intercostal strain, Amber Winkler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Thompson had progressed to throwing off the mound following last August's arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, but he's now battling a new injury. The left-hander has not made a game appearance at any level since 2024 due to multiple shoulder and lat issues. |
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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Sitting again Sunday
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 2:06 PM
Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Crooks is on the bench for the fourth time in five games, with three of those absences coming against right-handed starting pitchers. He's mustered an uninspiring .157/.246/.255 slash line over 57 plate appearances since being called up from Triple-A Memphis on May 29. Until Crooks begins to pick up the pace at the plate, he could be in store for a limited role as part of a three-way timeshare at catcher with Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera. |
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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Receiving afternoon off
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 10:46 AM
Walker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: Walker will head to the bench for the first time since April 22 in what appears to be a routine off day. Lars Nootbaar will shift over from left field to make the start in right field in place of Walker, who has enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2026 with a .290/.343/.516 slash line, 18 home runs, 10 steals, 58 RBI and 47 runs through 79 games. |
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Blaze Jordan Blaze Jordan Taking seat Saturday
Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 3:35 PM
Jordan isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Miami.
Analysis: Jordan will get a breather Saturday after starting 13 straight games and slashing .267/.280/.444 across 50 plate appearances to begin his MLB career. Bryan Torres will start at third base and bat seventh in Jordan's absence. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Next start getting skipped
Fri, Jun 26, 2026, 10:52 PM
The Cardinals will skip May's (back) turn in the rotation Saturday against Miami, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: May has been dealing with lower-back tightness since tossing a complete-game shutout against the Padres on June 15, which may have played a factor in his six-run, two-inning performance against Kansas City on Sunday. Delaying the 28-year-old's next appearance will give him extra time to heal and move Andre Pallante up a day to start Saturday on four days' rest. |
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Starting rehab assignment
Fri, Jun 26, 2026, 10:53 AM
Peete (concussion) has been sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League to begin a rehab assignment.
Analysis: Peete has been shelved for a little over a month after suffering a concussion at High-A Peoria. He will likely play a handful of rehab contests in the FCL before returning to Peoria, where he has slashed .272/.350/.528 with five home runs, five steals, a 10.7 percent walk rate and 31.4 percent strikeout rate. Peete was acquired from the Mariners over the offseason in the Brendan Donovan trade. |
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Heating up at Double-A
Fri, Jun 26, 2026, 10:32 AM
Rodriguez is slashing .391/.481/.717 with four home runs and three doubles over his last 11 contests at Double-A Springfield.
Analysis: Rodriguez was promoted from High-A Peoria to Springfield in mid-May and needed an initial adjustment period, hitting only .182 with one long ball in his first 21 games. The top prospect has now found his rhythm, and he's one of the hottest hitters in the Texas League at just 19 years of age. Between the two levels this season, Rodriguez boasts a .284/.394/.463 line with nine home runs, a 13.1 percent walk rate and a 22.6 percent strikeout rate. |
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Scoreless streak at Triple-A
Fri, Jun 26, 2026, 8:37 AM
Gastelum has put together a 19-inning scoreless streak at Triple-A Memphis and boasts a 25:2 K:BB over that stretch.
Analysis: Gastelum had one rocky outing back in mid-May during which he allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning, but despite that appearance he still boasts a 2.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB over 40.1 innings overall for Memphis. The 24-year-old right-hander sits in the low-90s with his fastball, but he's known for a devastating changeup that he's used to log a 31.2 percent strikeout rate in the minors. Gastelum is not on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, but is pushing hard for a chance to prove himself in the majors sooner rather than later. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Game postponed due to weather
Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 7:30 PM
McGreevy won't start as scheduled Thursday against the Diamondbacks after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.
Analysis: McGreevy will likely have his start pushed back a day and instead take the mound in Friday's series opener against Miami. The 25-year-old had a three-start quality start streak snapped Friday in Kansas City, giving up five runs on eight hits and a walk over five frames, and he'll look to get back on track against the Marlins. |
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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Sitting out third straight
Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 2:23 PM
Crooks is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Crooks didn't start the previous two days due to Arizona having a lefty on the mound. He's absent from Thursday's lineup because Ivan Herrera has been Michael McGreevy's personal catcher this season. Crooks had started six of seven contests prior to this three-game run with no starts, so it's been an inconsistent stretch of playing time for the rookie catcher. |
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