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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Sitting in third straight game
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:52 PM
Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: After he was held out of the lineup for the first two games of the series against lefty starters, the left-handed hitter will remain on the bench even with right-hander Javier Assad on the bump for the Cubs. Crooks looks as though he'll have to settle for a part-time role while the Cardinals continue to carry two other catchers (Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages) on the active roster. |
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Jose Fermin Jose Fermin Nabbing third straight start
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:49 PM
Fermin will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Fermin will claim his third consecutive start -- and his second in a row at third base -- after going 3-for-9 with two doubles, one RBI and one run over the first two contests of the series. With rookie Blaze Jordan (.642 OPS) offering middling production at the hot corner since being promoted from Triple-A Memphis on June 12, Fermin has a path to unseating him atop the depth chart. The 27-year-old hasn't provided much power (.398 SLG) or speed (three steals) while logging 144 plate appearances this season, but Fermin's been able to maintain a solid .271 batting average with a strong 13.9 percent strikeout rate. |
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Blaze Jordan Blaze Jordan Sitting for second straight game
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:44 PM
Jordan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Jose Fermin will make a second consecutive start at third base over Jordan, whose grasp on an everyday role appears to be loosening. Before busting out for three hits and scoring three runs in a 17-1 romp Friday, Jordan had gone just 2-for-21 over his prior eight starts. He's slashing .246/.265/.377 overall since receiving a promotion from Triple-A Memphis on June 12. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Set to start Monday
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:19 PM
May (ankle) is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Brewers, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: The right-hander departed his start Thursday against Atlanta after throwing 34 pitches in the first inning when he took a comebacker off the ankle, but he'll re-enter the rotation Monday on just three days rest. May has surrendered 11 runs in his past two starts, but prior to that he had a 1.30 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 33:4 K:BB across 27.2 frames in his previous four outings. |
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Blaze Jordan Blaze Jordan Beginning on bench Saturday
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 4:27 PM
Jordan is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Cubs.
Analysis: Jordan had started five straight games for St. Louis, and he's coming off a 3-for-5, three-run performance Friday. However, he'll get a breather Saturday while Jose Fermin gets a chance to start at third base. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Goes yard again Friday
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 7:57 PM
Church went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 17-1 rout of the Cubs.
Analysis: The 25-year-old outfielder got the offensive eruption started when he took David Peterson deep in the second inning, Church's eighth homer of the season and just his second off a left-hander. Three of those long balls have come in the last four games, and over 22 contests since returning from a shoulder injury in early June he's batting .281 (18-for-64) with seven total extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and three home runs), 10 RBI and 12 runs. |
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Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Big day in Friday's rout
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 7:53 PM
Herrera went 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 17-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: All three hits were singles, but Herrera was still in the thick of the offensive eruption by the Cardinals. It was the first multi-hit effort for the 26-year-old catcher/designated hitter since June 21, snapping a nine-game skid that had seen him bat just .129 (4-for-31) with one double and one RBI. Despite the brief swoon, Herrera sports a respectable .258/.396/.406 slash line on the season with 10 homers, five steals, 38 RBI and 58 runs in 85 contests. |
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Andre Pallante Andre Pallante Cruises to win No. 10
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 7:48 PM
Pallante (10-5) picked up the win Friday, allowing five hits and a walk over 5.2 scoreless innings in a 17-1 rout of the Cubs. He struck out two.
Analysis: The Cardinals backed Pallante by scoring multiple runs in five straight innings beginning in the second frame as the right-hander breezed through his afternoon, getting lifted after 102 pitches (61 strikes) and coming one out shy of his seventh quality start of the season. Pallante has given up two runs or fewer in five of six starts since the beginning of June, posting a 2.68 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB over 37 innings during that stretch, and his 10 wins ties him for first among all big-league starting pitchers this season with Chase Burns, Cristopher Sanchez and Justin Wrobleski. Pallante will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Brewers. |
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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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