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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 fifth loss Friday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 8:21 AM
Gastelum (5-4) took the loss after allowing one run on a hit and a 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, when he allowed two runs (one earned) in one inning against the Phillies. 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 runs in four of his last 10 appearances, but he still has posted decent numbers over that span, notably a 3.72 ERA and 10.2 K/9 across 9.2 frames. 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 closes 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 year, 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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Hancel Rincon Hancel Rincon Back up from Memphis
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:37 PM
The Cardinals recalled Rincon from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Analysis: The 24-year-old reliever made his first two major-league appearances earlier this month at Coors Field and they did not go well, as he was knocked around for seven runs while recording only four outs. Rincon threw 42 pitches in Memphis' final game of the season Thursday, so he won't be available to pitch until at least Saturday and perhaps Sunday. |
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Kyle Leahy Kyle Leahy Covers two frames in no-decision
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 5:09 PM
Leahy didn't factor in the decision Thursday at Pittsburgh after giving up a run on three hits and no walks over two innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: It was another short start down the stretch for the right-hander as the Cardinals managed his workload to close out his first season as a big-league starter. Leahy lasted fewer than five frames in his final six starts of the year, but he still finished with a 10-5 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 132:41 K:BB across 140 innings. That innings total is the 29-year-old's largest since 2022 in the minors -- his last season as a full-time starter -- and should set him up nicely to be a key rotation piece and avoid workload limitations late in the 2027 campaign. |
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Victor Scott II Victor Scott II Plans offseason trip to Driveline
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 3:49 PM
Scott will spend a week at Driveline Baseball's facility in Tampa, Florida, during the offseason, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: According to Goold, Scott's primary objective with his visit to Driveline will be to adjust his bat path so he can better "impact the ball." Scott also plans to play winter ball. The speedy outfielder was the Cardinals' Opening Day center fielder but has managed just a .190/.269/.252 batting line in 79 games with the big club this season. Scott also slashed only .237/.320/.342 this season during his time at Triple-A Memphis. |
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Cooper Hjerpe Cooper Hjerpe Optioned after final bulk outing
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 3:36 PM
The Cardinals optioned Hjerpe to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Hjerpe made his final appearance of the season in Thursday's loss to the Pirates, tossing 3.1 shutout innings in a bulk-relief outing. The Cardinals will announce a corresponding roster move prior to Friday's game in Milwaukee. Hjerpe made four appearances for the big club as a piggyback partner with Kyle Leahy, logging a 4.38 ERA and 15:9 K:BB over 12.1 innings. The left-hander will likely compete for a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day rotation next season. |
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Cooper Hjerpe Cooper Hjerpe Set for another piggyback outing
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 10:24 AM
Hjerpe is expected to work as a piggyback pitcher behind starter Kyle Leahy in Thursday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis: Since being called up from Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 6, Hjerpe has made all three of his appearances to date as part of a piggyback tandem with Leahy, whose workload the Cardinals are deliberately looking to keep in check as the season winds down. The rookie left-hander has had mixed results thus far, going 1-0 with a 12:6 K:BB while yielding six earned runs and giving up four hits across nine innings. |
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Finishes season off in style
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:21 AM
Molina struck out six while yielding just one hit and two walks over five shutout innings Wednesday in Triple-A Memphis' win over Rochester in the International League Championship Series.
Analysis: Between Molina's final five regular-season starts and his one playoff outing, the lefty yielded a total of just one run while posting a 0.82 WHIP and 39:8 K:BB over 30.2 innings. In 27 regular-season starts, Molina finished with a 3.57 ERA and 150:53 K:BB across 123.2 frames between Double-A Springfield and Memphis. The 23-year-old southpaw has a good chance to debut for the Cardinals in 2027. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Three hits in win
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 11:05 PM
Wetherholt went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Pirates.
Analysis: Wetherholt provided the Cardinals with a steady presence at the plate, reaching base four times and scoring the first run of the game off of a Alec Burleson single. The rookie has gone 6-for-20 (.300) since being activated from the injured list (wrist) on September 16. He's closing out a productive rookie campaign with a .710 OPS, 17 home runs, 14 stolen bases and 51 RBI over 136 games and providing excellent defense at second base. |
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Matthew Liberatore Matthew Liberatore Secures first win since July
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 10:52 PM
Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run on six hits and no walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings to earn the win Wednesday versus the Pirates.
Analysis: Liberatore picked up his first victory since July 11, which came against Atlanta just before the All-Star break. During the winless stretch, the left-hander tossed 61.1 innings with a 5.58 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with eight losses in 11 outings. The 26-year-old pitched great Wednesday in Pittsburgh, with the only damage against him coming via a solo homer by Brandon Lowe. It was Liberatore's final start of the campaign, and he'll end 2026 with a disappointing 5.23 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 154:55 K:BB across 155 innings. |
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Thomas Saggese Thomas Saggese Exiting starting nine
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:01 PM
Saggese is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Pittsburgh.
Analysis: Saggese had made 20 consecutive starts for the Cardinals, but he's cooled off lately in going hitless across his last four games. Nolan Gorman will cover third base for St. Louis on Wednesday. |
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Leo Bernal Leo Bernal Preparing for heavy workload in 2027
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 11:53 AM
The Cardinals believe Bernal can be "an everyday, workhorse catcher," per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and are giving him a heavy workload down the stretch to prepare him to be the everyday catcher in 2027.
Analysis: Bernal has started all 19 games since being promoted Sept. 1, including 13 starts at catcher. The 22-year-old rookie has slashed .299/.341/.494 with four home runs and 17 RBI and has also drawn rave reviews for his work with the pitching staff. St. Louis is overloaded with catching depth, but it's become clear that it sees Bernal opening 2027 at the top of the depth chart at the position. Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages, Jimmy Crooks and eventually Rainiel Rodriguez are also in the mix at catcher for the Cardinals, though they could move Herrera off the position permanently at some point. |
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Andre Pallante Andre Pallante Pitches well in loss Tuesday
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:34 PM
Pallante (12-8) took the loss after allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He struck out two.
Analysis: Despite the loss, Pallante recorded his first quality start since Aug. 11 against the Phillies. The right-hander was unable to get any run support from the Cardinals offense during his start Tuesday. Through 28 outings, the 28-year-old owns a 3.61 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 106:49 K:BB over 157 innings. Pallante is in line to make his final start of the campaign during Game 162 against the Brewers on Sunday. |
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Thomas Saggese Thomas Saggese Settling into everyday role
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 1:47 PM
Saggese will start at third base and will bat seventh in Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis: Saggese was out of the lineup for the Cardinals' first two games upon his promotion in late August, but since then he's made 20 consecutive starts. He was swinging a hot bat initially after being recalled from Triple-A Memphis, but the 24-year-old has since cooled off, going 7-for-41 (.171) over his last 11 games. |
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Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Second multi-homer game of 2026
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 4:58 PM
Herrera went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Sunday in a 5-3 win over Washington.
Analysis: It was Herrera's third career multi-homer game and second of the season. The catcher had gone hitless in five straight starts prior to his current three-game hitting streak, picking up six knocks during that latter stretch. Through 692 plate appearances, he's slashing .247/.358/.388 with 18 homers, 68 RBI, eight stolen bases and 95 runs scored. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Dispatches Nationals for 38th save
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 4:52 PM
O'Brien threw a clean ninth inning to earn the save Sunday against the Nationals.
Analysis: The All-Star closer made quick work of Washington, retiring the side on just six pitches (all strikes). O'Brien has had a shaky month of September, converting only four of his last seven save chances, but Sunday's performance was a step in the right direction as he looks to end the campaign on a positive note. He has a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 64:29 K:BB over 64 innings, piling up 38 saves in 46 opportunities. |
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Quinn Mathews Quinn Mathews Productive stretch continues
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 4:40 PM
Mathews didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Washington, striking out three while allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in seven innings.
Analysis: CJ Abrams popped a two-run shot off Mathews in the sixth inning, but the hurler was still able to hang in there Sunday for a quality start. The rookie southpaw is potentially working his way into the Cardinals' pitching plans for 2027, either posting a quality start or tossing at least five innings while yielding two runs or fewer in five consecutive outings. His final appearance of the year is slated to come in Milwaukee, where he'll bring a decent 3.65 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB over 44.1 innings. |
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