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Could get some reps at third base
Tue, Sep 29, 2026, 8:56 AM
Rodriguez has worked out at third base and will "continue to see time there as they look to expand his versatility," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom noted Monday that the team has a "long-term vacancy" at third base. Goold writes that Rodriguez still projects as a catcher, but the team is open to adding third base to his list of positions along with catcher and first base as it looks to increase versatility. Rodriguez -- who will not turn 20 until January -- has emerged as one of the best prospects in baseball, having slashed .324/.413/.574 with 27 home runs, 87 RBI, 11 steals and a 60:101 BB:K over 115 games between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield in 2026. He'll likely begin the 2027 season at Triple-A Memphis and could reach the majors before the end of the season. |
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Richard Fitts Richard Fitts Expected to be ready for spring
Tue, Sep 29, 2026, 8:47 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Fitts (lat) is on track to be ready at the start of spring training but will have his workload monitored, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Fitts underwent right lat surgery in April after getting hurt while pitching at Triple-A Memphis. It's unclear where Fitts currently is in the rehab process, but Bloom said the righty is "hellbent on being part of this picture from the jump" next season. Assuming health, Fitts will be in the mix for a rotation spot next season. However, after all the time off, there's a good chance he'll begin the campaign back at Memphis. |
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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Lingering hip pain down stretch
Tue, Sep 29, 2026, 8:41 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Walker was playing through some hip pain and other discomfort late in the season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: The lingering hip issue could at least partly explain Walker's fade in September, as he slashed just .172/.232/.287 in the final month. The good news is the Cardinals do not expect the injury to linger into the offseason, as Walker has simply been prescribed rest. It was a breakout 2026 campaign for the 24-year-old outfielder, with Walker sporting a .269/.327/.466 batting line with 29 home runs, 102 RBI and 22 stolen bases. |
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Chase Hampton Chase Hampton Claimed off waivers by Cardinals
Mon, Sep 28, 2026, 1:55 PM
The Cardinals claimed Hampton off waivers from the Nationals on Monday.
Analysis: Hampton was one of the Yankees' best pitching prospects a few years ago, but he missed all of 2025 following Tommy John surgery and struggled in 2026 upon returning, logging an 8.18 ERA and 56:34 K:BB over 55 innings across three levels in the minors. The 25-year-old has yet to advance past the Double-A level. |
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Leo Bernal Leo Bernal Lifts fifth homer
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 5:18 PM
Bernal went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run and two walks in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Brewers.
Analysis: Bernal showed plenty of promise over his 24 games in the majors to close out the campaign. He hit .284 with an .807 OPS, five homers, 21 RBI, 12 runs scored and three doubles while seeing time at catcher, first base and designated hitter. Bernal is expected to be the Cardinals' catcher of the future, and his first sample of work in the majors is an encouraging sign of what kind of production he can provide. |
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Andre Pallante Andre Pallante Hit hard in finale
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 5:15 PM
Pallante (12-9) allowed six runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to take the loss versus the Brewers on Sunday.
Analysis: Pallante didn't catch much of a break as the Brewers had most of their top hitters active for the regular-season finale. September saw Pallante produce more mixed results, allowing 17 runs (15 earned) over 26 innings across five starts. He ends the campaign at a 3.83 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 110:50 K:BB through 162 innings over 29 starts. Pallante has made himself a stable but unexciting option at the back end of the Cardinals' rotation over the last few years. |
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Bryan Torres Bryan Torres Not starting Sunday
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 11:03 AM
Torres is absent from the lineup for Sunday's contest in Milwaukee.
Analysis: Torres started in left field five of the previous six times the Cardinals have faced a righty, but he'll begin Sunday's finale on the bench. Jose Fermin will patrol left field for St. Louis. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Sitting for Game 162
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 11:00 AM
Burleson is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: Burleson, Major League Baseball's RBI leader with 116, will give way to Leo Bernal at first base against Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski to close the campaign. Burleson turned out to be a tremendous draft-day value in 2026, though his days of flying under the radar are likely over. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Taking seat for finale
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 10:59 AM
Wetherholt is not in the lineup for Sunday's game in Milwaukee.
Analysis: Wetherholt will grab a seat for Sunday's regular-season finale while Cesar Prieto covers second base. Assuming he does not appear off the bench Sunday, Wetherholt will finish his rookie season with a .242/.339/.365 batting line, 17 home runs, 14 stolen bases and a 64:104 BB:K. |
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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Making first start in leadoff spot
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 9:40 AM
Walker will make his first career start in the leadoff spot Sunday against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Walker has primarily hit third or fourth for St. Louis in 2026, but the Cardinals will move him to the leadoff spot for the season finale, which should get the outfielder an extra at-bat or two as he tries to reach an even 30 homers for the year. The 24-year-old has put together a fantastic season overall, though he's regressed sharply to .238/.291/.379 since the All-Star break. |
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Quinn Mathews Quinn Mathews Ends 2026 season with loss
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 9:15 PM
Mathews (2-4) took the loss against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings.
Analysis: Mathews was handed an early 2-0 lead, but he gave up an RBI single to Jackson Chourio in the third before yielding a two-run homer to Brice Turang in the fifth in what turned out to be the game-winning runs for the Brewers. Saturday was the fourth time in nine major-league starts that Mathews fanned at least seven batters, and the 25-year-old southpaw showed he could handle himself in the big leagues since making his MLB debut Aug. 1. He'll end the 2026 campaign with a 3.83 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 49.1 innings. |
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Thomas Saggese Thomas Saggese Late addition to lineup
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 5:05 PM
Saggese will start at shortstop and bat eighth Saturday against the Brewers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Saggese was originally in line to sit out Saturday's contest, but he'll be forced back into the starting nine as Masyn Winn moves to the bench with a sore thumb. Saggese is on track to end the season on a sour note after going 0-for-20 with 10 strikeouts across his last six games. |
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Masyn Winn Masyn Winn Shut down for season
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 5:01 PM
Winn was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers due to thumb soreness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Winn is still feeling lingering soreness from the thumb fracture he suffered in late August, and because the Cardinals have nothing left to play for this season, they'll opt to keep the 24-year-old on the bench in both of their remaining games. Thomas Saggese will enter the lineup and start at shortstop in Winn's place. |
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Thomas Saggese Thomas Saggese Resting up Saturday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 4:06 PM
Saggese isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: Saggese will move to the bench Saturday after going 0-for-20 with 10 strikeouts over his last six games. Nolan Gorman will replace him at third base and bat sixth. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Back in lineup
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 4:04 PM
Church (foot) will start in center field and bat ninth Saturday against Milwaukee.
Analysis: Foot soreness prevented Church from starting Friday's series opener, but he seems to be feeling well enough to return to action after a day of rest. The 26-year-old will aim to finish the season strong after batting .307 over 22 games since the beginning of September. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Nursing sore foot
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 9:46 AM
Church was out of Friday's lineup in Milwaukee due to lingering soreness in his foot, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Church fouled a ball off his foot during the Cardinals' series in Pittsburgh earlier this week. He was able to appear off the bench as a pinch hitter, so Church could be back in the lineup as soon as Saturday. Victor Scott started Friday in center field in Church's place, going 1-for-3 at the plate. |
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Luis Gastelum Luis Gastelum Takes fourth loss Friday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 8:21 AM
Gastelum (5-4) took the loss after allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two over one inning in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Brewers.
Analysis: This was Gastelum's first loss since Aug. 21. Gastelum entered for the seventh with St. Louis trailing 4-1 and worked around a hit and a walk to keep Milwaukee scoreless. The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the eighth, but Gastelum returned in the bottom half of the inning and allowed a single to Jackson Chourio, who would end up scoring the go-ahead run. Gastelum has given up a run in four of his last 10 appearances, but he still has posted a 3.72 ERA and 10.2 K/9 across 9.2 frames during that span. With two games left in the regular season. Gastelum has a 4.42 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 36.2 innings in 34 relief outings. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Allows four runs Friday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 8:13 AM
McGreevy didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Brewers after allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out two over 4.2 innings.
Analysis: McGreevy struggled to keep Milwaukee off the bases before departing with two outs in the fifth, and while Milwaukee jumped to a 4-1 lead, the Cardinals later erased the early deficit. McGreevy closed the season with some ups and downs, but he went undefeated in his last 10 starts, going 3-0 with a 4.78 ERA across 52.2 innings. For the season, the third-year hurler posted career-high marks in innings pitched (168.2), starts (31) and ERA (3.95), among several other categories. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Stepping out of lineup
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:59 PM
Church is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest in Milwaukee.
Analysis: It will be the first day off since Aug. 23 for Church, who is slashing .295/.340/.400 during that stretch. Victor Scott will grab a rare start in center field and will bat ninth for the Cardinals in Friday's series opener. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Taking seat Friday against lefty
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:55 PM
Burleson is out of the lineup for Friday's game in Milwaukee.
Analysis: The lefty-swinging Burleson will get a breather as the Brewers send southpaw Robert Gasser to the bump. Leo Bernal is grabbing a start at first base for the Cardinals, and Pedro Pages will do the catching. |
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