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Moving up to Double-A
Tue, Aug 4, 2026, 11:26 AM
Franklin was promoted from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Tuesday.
Analysis: Franklin had been on a roll in his last four starts with Peoria, logging a 1.83 ERA and 28:2 K:BB over 19.2 innings. The hard-throwing righty can lose the strike zone on occasion -- he's sporting a 10.3 percent walk rate for the season -- but Franklin has emerged as one of the Cardinals' better pitching prospects as he transitions from college reliever to minor-league starter. |
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Hunter Dobbins Hunter Dobbins Drawing start Tuesday
Tue, Aug 4, 2026, 11:07 AM
Dobbins is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees in New York, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Though they still had five starters in place even after dealing Dustin May to the Brewers on Monday, the Cardinals appear set to at least temporarily expand the rotation to six men with the addition of Dobbins, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in the aftermath of the trade deadline. Dobbins has previously made four starts and three relief appearances for St. Louis, going 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 32:11 K:BB across 33.2 innings. |
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Leonardo Bernal Leonardo Bernal Hot bat at Triple-A Memphis
Tue, Aug 4, 2026, 8:44 AM
Bernal is slashing .288/.360/.569 with nine home runs, 12 doubles and 42 RBI in 38 games since the start of June.
Analysis: Bernal has already set a new career high this season with 14 home runs, and he's sporting a 118 wRC+, 11.6 percent walk rate and 19.6 percent strikeout rate. The Cardinals didn't wind up trading any catchers at the deadline, which could make it difficult for Bernal to crack the big-league roster before the end of this season, but the switch-hitting 22-year-old looks ready for an opportunity when called upon. |
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Promoted after another cycle
Tue, Aug 4, 2026, 8:35 AM
Peete has been promoted from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield, Amber Winkler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Peete -- who turns 21 next week -- earned the promotion shortly after hitting for his second cycle of the season for Peoria on Saturday. The outfielder played only 42 games for Peoria due to injury, but he slashed .300/.370/.611 with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases in those contests. One downside with Peete's season has been a 28.5 percent strikeout rate, so he'll look to cut that down upon his move to Springfield. |
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Hunter Dobbins Hunter Dobbins Recalled from Triple-A
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 6:20 PM
The Cardinals recalled Dobbins from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Analysis: Dobbins has made four starts and three relief appearances for St. Louis this season, logging a 3.74 ERA an 32:11 K:BB over 33.2 innings. It's unclear at this point whether the Cardinals have a start mapped out for Dobbins or if they plan to have him available in long relief. |
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Blaze Jordan Blaze Jordan On bench Monday
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 6:16 PM
Jordan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
Analysis: Jordan will hit the bench for the series opener while Jose Fermin picks up a start at third base. Since the All-Star break, Jordan has produced a .245/.275/.347 slash line with no home runs or stolen bases, eight RBI and three runs in 14 games. |
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Dealt to St. Louis
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 5:52 PM
The Cardinals acquired Santana, right-hander Daniel Eagen and a player to be named later from the Diamondbacks on Monday in exchange for outfielder Lars Nootbaar.
Analysis: A 21-year-old lefty reliever, Santana has a 0.57 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 21:6 K:BB and 76.7 percent groundball rate in 15.2 innings across 11 appearances since getting promoted to Double-A in late June. He possesses a solid fastball and slider, and his 10.6 percent walk rate this season is a career-best mark. |
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Headlines return for Nootbaar
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 5:48 PM
The Cardinals acquired Eagen, left-hander Sandro Santana and a player to be named later from the Diamondbacks on Monday in exchange for outfielder Lars Nootbaar.
Analysis: Eagen is a better pitcher than his 4.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 20 starts at Double-A this season would suggest, as he pitched half his games in Amarillo, one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the minors. On the positive side, Eagen has a strong 29.2 percent strikeout rate and a career-best 9.1 percent walk rate. The 6-foot-4 righty has been particularly effective over his last four starts, logging a 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 22 innings. |
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Caleb Ferguson Caleb Ferguson Sent to St. Louis at deadline
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 5:21 PM
The Cardinals acquired Ferguson from the Reds on Monday in exchange for $250,000 in international bonus pool money, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Ferguson will help the bullpen from the left side after the Cardinals traded JoJo Romero (abdomen) earlier Monday. The 30-year-old Ferguson has collected a 4.01 ERA and 22:11 K:B over 24.2 frames for the Reds this season and is an impending free agent. |
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Shipped to division rival
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 3:05 PM
The Brewers traded Ragsdale and Alexander Frias to the Cardinals on Monday in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ragsdale has been one of the breakout prospects of the year, particularly since mid-June. In 36 games since June 17, Ragsdale is slashing .333/.459/.783 with 17 home runs, nine doubles, nine steals, an 18.2 percent walk rate and a 24.7 percent strikeout rate. A seventh-round pick in 2025 out of Boston College, Ragsdale not only controls the strike zone, but 76.7 percent of his balls in play at Double-A were either linedrives or flyballs. On the season, he has 19 home runs and 31 steals (on 34 attempts) in 86 games across High-A and Double-A. |
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Shipped to Cards in blockbuster
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 2:58 PM
The Brewers traded Frias and Josiah Ragsdale to the Cardinals on Monday in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Frias is the latest Brewers international signee to break out in a big way, as he has already registered elite exit velocities as an 18-year-old with a projectable 6-foot-2, 177-pound frame. The lefty-hitting Frias won't turn 19 until March and slashed .342/.427/.553 with eight home runs, 19 steals and a 17.6 percent strikeout rate in 60 games across the Arizona Complex League and Single-A. It's worth noting that he was significantly more productive in complex ball (189 wRC+) than after his promotion to the Carolina League (93 wRC+), but his upside is undeniable. His 20 percent strikeout rate at Single-A hasn't been a problem, but his 57.3 percent groundball rate is a poor mark. |
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JoJo Romero JoJo Romero Expected back by mid-August
Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 11:57 AM
Romero (abdomen) has resumed light baseball activities and is expected to rejoin the active roster by mid-August, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Romero underwent an emergency appendectomy in mid-July. The impending free agent is a trade candidate and could still be dealt before Monday's deadline even though he will not be available to pitch for more than a week. Romero has authored a 3.35 ERA and 43:16 K:BB over 43 innings this season. |
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Matthew Liberatore Matthew Liberatore Stellar in no-decision
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 3:41 PM
Liberatore didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing just one hit and a walk across six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: After giving up eight runs over nine innings in his last two starts, Liberatore responded with his best outing of the season Sunday, as he held Toronto to a lone single across six scoreless frames. Liberatore lowered his ERA to 4.97 with a 1.49 WHIP and 107:41 K:BB across 22 starts (108.2 innings) this season. The southpaw is currently slated to face the Rockies at home his next time out. |
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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Receiving breather Sunday
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 8:51 AM
Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Crooks will get a break after he went 1-for-6 with four strikeouts while starting behind the dish in the first two games of the series. Ivan Herrera will receive the start at catcher in Sunday's finale. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Handed day off
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 8:48 AM
Wetherholt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Wetherholt will get his first day off since July 8 while the Cardinals go with Jose Fermin at the keystone. The NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner has been sluggish at the plate since the All-Star break, slashing .190/.292/.333 with three home runs, three steals, five RBI and 11 runs over 16 games. |
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Solid in MLB debut
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 7:46 PM
Mathews (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Cardinals fell 5-1 to the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: In his big-league debut, Mathews kept things close but got little help from his offense, tossing 63 of 97 pitches for strikes and getting pulled after giving up a bunt single to Daulton Varsho to lead off the sixth. The Cards have yet to confirm whether the 25-year-old southpaw will stick around in the rotation, but with Dustin May likely to be moved by the trade deadline, a permanent spot could be about to open up. If he stays on turn, Mathews lines up to make his next start at home next weekend against the Rockies. |
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Matt Svanson Matt Svanson Sent down to Triple-A
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 11:25 AM
The Cardinals optioned Svanson to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.
Analysis: After giving up seven runs (six earned) in 3.2 innings following the All-Star break, Svanson will lose his place in St. Louis' bullpen to make room for the arrival of Quinn Mathews. Svanson owns a 7.27 ERA through 43.1 frames this season -- a sharp decline from his 1.94 ERA in 2025 -- but could still return to the majors if he rights the ship in Triple-A. |
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Tink Hence Tink Hence Jettisoned from 40-man
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 11:15 AM
The Cardinals designated Hence for assignment Saturday.
Analysis: Hence will lose his place on the 40-man roster to make room for Quinn Mathews, who was called up to start Saturday's game against Toronto. Hence has spent the entire season at Triple-A Memphis and owns a 6.64 ERA and 1.84 WHIP through 20.1 innings. |
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Promoted ahead of start
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 11:12 AM
The Cardinals selected Mathews' contract from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.
Analysis: After posting a 3.13 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through 92 innings at Memphis, Mathews will make his MLB debut Saturday against a Blue Jays lineup that's put up just a .642 OPS since the All-Star break. His promotion gives the Cardinals six starters in their rotation, though the 25-year-old could claim a permanent spot with the big club if St. Louis trades away another starter before the deadline Monday. Matt Svanson was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to make room for Mathews on the active roster, and Tink Hence was DFA'd to clear a 40-man spot. |
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Kyle Leahy Kyle Leahy Yet another quality start
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 9:28 PM
Leahy did not factor into Friday's decision against the Cardinals, allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out three across six innings.
Analysis: Leahy kept the Blue Jays off the board through five innings, but any chance of logging his first win since July 4 was dashed after he gave up an RBI double to Kazuma Okamoto in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1. It was the third consecutive quality start for Leahy and his sixth of the season, and he has a 3.44 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 91:35 K:BB over 107.1 innings. His next start is lined up for next weekend at home against the Rockies. |
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