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Hunter Dobbins Hunter Dobbins Spot start on tap Tuesday
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 4:16 PM
Manager Oliver Marmol confirmed that Dobbins will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday to start one game of the Cardinals' doubleheader with the Brewers in St. Louis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The doubleheader will force the Cardinals to temporarily expand their rotation to six men, so Dobbins is expected to make just one start before St. Louis presumably sends him back to the minors following the twin bill. The 26-year-old righty has previously made four appearances (two starts) for the Cardinals this season, going 0-1 while turning in a 3.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB over 17.1 innings. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Will have limited workload Monday
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 3:40 PM
May will be held to around 65 pitches during Monday's start against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: May made a quick recovery from a right ankle injury that forced him from last Thursday's start in Atlanta. However, the right-hander will be pitching on three days' rest Monday, and he has not thrown more than 44 pitches in a start in three weeks. The Cardinals will be cautious with May versus the Brewers, but assuming he comes out of Monday's outing with no setbacks, May should be ready for a normal workload this weekend against Atlanta. |
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Gordon Graceffo Gordon Graceffo Rejoins big-league bullpen
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 3:10 PM
The Cardinals recalled Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Dani Wexelman of Cardinals.tv reports.
Analysis: Graceffo was just optioned to Memphis last Friday and did not make an appearance during his brief stint with the team's top minor-league affiliate. The righty will provide a fresh bullpen arm as the Cardinals open up a five-game series against the rival Brewers on Monday. |
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Max Rajcic Max Rajcic Shelved by elbow injury
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 3:07 PM
The Cardinals placed Rajcic on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right elbow injury.
Analysis: Manager Oliver Marmol revealed that Rajcic felt elbow soreness after his last appearance Friday, and he's being sent for a second opinion before a more specific diagnosis is revealed, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat. The rookie reliever has yielded five runs with an 8:6 K:BB over nine innings out of the Cardinals' bullpen since being called up last month. |
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Lars Nootbaar Lars Nootbaar Out of lineup against lefty
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 2:59 PM
Nootbaar is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Brewers.
Analysis: The lefty-swinging Nootbaar will grab a seat as the Brewers use southpaw Shane Drohan in the series opener. Nelson Velazquez will patrol left field and hit cleanup for the Cardinals. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Sitting versus southpaw
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 2:55 PM
Burleson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Burleson is slashing only .188/.215/.238 versus lefty hurlers, so the Cardinals will give him some rest as the Brewers send southpaw Shane Drohan to the hill. Blaze Jordan will slide across the diamond to first base, and Jose Fermin will occupy the hot corner. |
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Re-emerging as prospect in 2026
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 9:47 AM
Cho has launched seven home runs in 10 games since being promoted to Double-A Springfield.
Analysis: Cho fell off the prospect radar after putting up a sub-.700 OPS over the last two seasons, but he's bounced back in a major way in 2026, slashing .271/.388/.546 with 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases between High-A Peoria and Springfield. The 15 long balls for Cho more than double his previous career high of seven. Cho -- who turns 23 in August -- has split time between all three outfield spots this season but profiles best in a corner. |
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Matthew Liberatore Matthew Liberatore Wild in sixth loss
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 6:29 PM
Liberatore (4-6) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Liberatore couldn't get through the sixth inning Sunday, but he was at least able to toss four scoreless frames in between the sixth inning and a two-run first frame by the Cubs. The 26-year-old southpaw was especially wild, landing just 44 of his 78 pitches for strikes while also plunking a trio of batters, so he might have been fortunate to complete five innings. Liberatore has an uninspiring 5.34 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 82:35 K:BB over 87.2 innings, and he's given up at least three runs in five of his last six outings. |
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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 in St. Louis, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: The right-hander departed his start Thursday against Atlanta after taking a comebacker off his ankle during a 34-pitch first inning, but he'll re-enter the rotation Monday on just three days' rest. May has surrendered 11 runs in his past two starts, but he submitted a 1.30 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 33:4 K:BB across 27.2 frames in his four starts prior to that. |
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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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