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Joshua Baez Joshua Baez Riding struggle bus since three-homer debut
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 11:49 AM
Baez went 0-for-9 with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored while starting in both ends of Monday's doubleheader in Cincinnati.
Analysis: Since making history Saturday in his MLB debut at Wrigley Field with three home runs and five RBI in his first three at-bats, Baez has gone hitless with six strikeouts in his subsequent 16 trips to the plate. Given that the 23-year-old outfielder struck out at a 29.5 percent clip at Triple-A Memphis this season, his early struggles with making consistent contact in the big leagues don't come as a major surprise and could make him prone to slumps. Even so, the all-fields power Baez put on display in his debut and during his time in the minors in addition to his aggressiveness as a baserunner (21 steals in 24 attempts at Memphis) should be more than enough to offset the risk he carries in the batting-average category. He should also benefit from ample RBI opportunities, as the Cardinals slotted him fifth in the order in three of his first four starts. |
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Quinn Mathews Quinn Mathews Sent back to Memphis
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 9:15 AM
The Cardinals optioned Mathews to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.
Analysis: Mathews held the Reds to one run over four innings in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Reds. There's not currently room for the left-hander in the Cardinals' rotation, so he'll return to Memphis for now until another opportunity arises. |
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Andre Pallante Andre Pallante Continues to provide good length
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 11:15 PM
Pallante allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Pallante allowed plenty of traffic, but only one of the 10 hits against him (a double) went for extra bases. He held the Reds to just one run through his first five frames but faded in his final inning, when he gave up three runs on four hits. Still, the right-hander did his job by lasting six frames to help protect a bullpen that deployed five relievers in Game 1. Length has been a strong point of Pallante's of late -- he's now completed six-plus innings in four of his past five starts. While he's by no means setting the world on fire, Pallante has quietly shown considerable improvement over last season by recording a respectable 3.57 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 97:41 K:BB across 136 innings over 24 starts. He's lined up to next take the mound on the road against Philadelphia. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Dominates for save No. 31
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:56 PM
O'Brien notched a save in the first game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Reds, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Analysis: O'Brien had little trouble protecting a one-run lead, throwing 11 of 14 pitches for strikes en route to punching out all three batters he faced. The All-Star closer leads the NL with 31 saves on the season, and only Tampa Bay's Bryan Baker (35) has more saves in either league. O'Brien's last blown save came July 20 against the Angels -- since then, he's a perfect six-for-six in save chances and has pitched 10 consecutive scoreless outings, yielding just one hit while posting an 11:5 K:BB across 10 innings during that span. |
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Quinn Mathews Quinn Mathews Fans seven in spot start
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:50 PM
Mathews completed four innings in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against Cincinnati, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters in a no-decision.
Analysis: Mathews was called up from Triple-A Memphis early Monday and handed the ball for the matinee. The southpaw held his own, allowing just one run on a fourth-inning solo homer by Dane Myers. Mathews racked up 12 whiffs and seven punchouts, though he was a bit wild and needed 95 pitches (55 strikes) to complete only four frames. It was just the second appearance of the 25-year-old's big-league career; in his MLB debut Aug. 1 in Toronto, Mathews yielded three runs over five innings in a loss. Unless St. Louis opts to shift to a six-man rotation, there doesn't seem to be room for Mathews to remain with the big-league club as a starter for now, but he'd likely be a top candidate to move into the rotation should any of the Cardinals' other starters suffer an injury or get demoted. |
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Jose Fermin Jose Fermin Out of lineup for second game
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:10 PM
Fermin is not in the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Cincinnati.
Analysis: After going 0-for-3 at the plate in the first game, Fermin will begin the nightcap on the bench. Blaze Jordan will settle in at third base for the Cardinals. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Taking seat for early game
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 11:18 AM
Church is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Reds.
Analysis: Church's platoon mate, Everson Pereira, will cover center field for St. Louis in the early game while Cincinnati sends left-hander Kent Emanuel to the mound. Expect Church to return to the starting nine for the second game of the day, when right-hander Rhett Lowder will take the hill for the Reds. |
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Jimmy Crooks Jimmy Crooks Idle for first game of day
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 11:16 AM
Crooks is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Reds.
Analysis: The Reds are sending southpaw Kent Emanuel to the bump for Game 1, so the left-handed-hitting Crooks will begin the contest on the bench. Crooks could draw a start behind the plate in the second game of the day, when a right-hander (Rhett Lowder) will be on the mound for Cincinnati. |
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Quinn Mathews Quinn Mathews Added to roster ahead of spot start
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 9:54 AM
The Cardinals recalled Mathews from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Analysis: Mathews will start the first game of Monday's doubleheader in Cincinnati versus the Reds. He'll be making his second MLB start, after yielding two runs with a 3:3 K:BB over five innings in his debut in Toronto earlier this month. In 21 starts for Memphis this season, Mathews has collected a 3.27 ERA and 120:61 K:BB across 99 innings. He will likely be sent back down following Monday's spot start. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Out of lineup for first game of twin bill
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 9:49 AM
Wetherholt is not in the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Reds.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Wetherholt will take a seat for the first game of the twin bill as the Reds send southpaw Kent Emanuel to the bump. Jose Fermin will grab a start at second base for the Cardinals. Wetherholt should be back in the lineup for Monday's nightcap. |
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Quinn Mathews Quinn Mathews Returning to start Monday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 6:41 PM
The Cardinals will recall Mathews from Triple-A Memphis to start the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Reds in Cincinnati, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Mathews will make his second career big-league start after he tossed five innings and allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three batters in his major-league debut Aug 1. versus Toronto. The southpaw has produced a 3.27 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 120 punchouts over 99 innings in 21 starts with Memphis this season. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Stays hot in win
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 6:11 PM
Burleson went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and four total RBI in Sunday's 11-4 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Burleson has homered in consecutive contests, and he's driven in 13 runs over his last seven games. He is batting .340 (17-for-50) over 14 games in August as he continues to be a consistent producer in the heart of the Cardinals' lineup. Burleson is hitting .288 with an .849 OPS, 21 homers, 90 RBI, 69 runs scored, 31 doubles, one triple and three stolen bases over 123 contests. |
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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Three extra-base hits in win
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 6:09 PM
Walker went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, two doubles and four total RBI in Sunday's 11-4 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Walker had been held hitless in three of his previous four games before breaking out of the slump. His homer came as part of a six-run fourth inning that put the Cardinals in firm control of this contest. Walker is now batting .284 with an .839 OPS, 24 homers, 88 RBI, 73 runs scored, 26 doubles and 16 stolen bases over 120 contests in his breakout year, though he's hit just two long balls since the All-Star break. |
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Hunter Dobbins Hunter Dobbins Secures third win
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 6:05 PM
Dobbins (3-3) allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven over five-plus innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Sunday.
Analysis: Dobbins had gone winless over his previous three outings, allowing nine runs (seven earned) in that span. While he wasn't all that sharp -- his four walks were his most since his first outing of the season -- he received plenty of run support from his teammates. Dobbins has posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 49:21 K:BB through 50 innings across 10 games (seven starts) this year. Dobbins is projected to make his next start in Philadelphia. |
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Jose Fermin Jose Fermin Riding bench Sunday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 11:54 AM
Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Cubs.
Analysis: Fermin will end up sitting for a second straight day after he started in each of the previous six contests while going 5-for-15 with a 6:2 BB:K, a double, three stolen bases, three RBI and one run over that stretch. Though the arrival of top prospect Joshua Baez from Triple-A Memphis will likely limit his opportunities in left field moving forward, Fermin could still have a path to playing time at third base, where he'll jockey with Blaze Jordan for starts. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Swats homer No. 20
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 4:56 PM
Burleson went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: The 27-year-old slugger capped the scoring for the Cardinals with a solo shot off Collin Rea in the eighth inning. While his performance was overshadowed by Joshua Baez's history-making three-homer day in his MLB debut, Burleson achieved a milestone of his own, becoming the first player in the majors this season with 30 doubles and 20 homers. Over 13 games in August, Burleson is batting .311 (14-for-45) with five long balls, 11 runs and 15 RBI. |
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Joshua Baez Joshua Baez Makes history in MLB debut
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 4:51 PM
Baez went 3-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Making his big-league debut at storied Wrigley Field, Baez did something no other player in MLB history had ever done, homering in his first three trips to the plate. All three long balls came off Matthew Boyd, with the first being a massive 449-foot blast to center field on the very first pitch Baez saw, and the three homers combined traveled 1,199 feet. The 23-year-old outfielder earned his promotion Saturday by launching 34 home runs in 79 Triple-A games this season, and it doesn't look like he's going to have much trouble translating that power to the top level of baseball. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Pockets win in quality start
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 4:44 PM
McGreevy (5-9) picked up the win over the Cubs on Saturday, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: A two-out error by Blaze Jordan in the second inning eventually led to a three-run homer by Michael Conforto, but McGreevy shook it off and delivered his 14th quality start of the season on 102 pitches (61 strikes). The 26-year-old righty has been showing signs of fatigue since the All-Star break, however -- he's worked a career-high 132 innings this season, and over six starts since the break he's managed a 5.04 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB in 30.1 innings. McGreevy will look to build on this performance in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Cincinnati. |
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Cesar Prieto Cesar Prieto Relegated to Triple-A
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:33 AM
The Cardinals optioned Prieto to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Prieto boasts an .890 OPS across 300 plate appearances in the minors this season, but he's gone just 1-for-31 at the plate with the parent club. He'll now return to Memphis to rediscover his swing, clearing room on the active roster for top prospect Joshua Baez. |
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Joshua Baez Joshua Baez Promotion official
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:30 AM
The Cardinals recalled Baez from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: One of the top prospects in all of baseball, Baez will make his MLB debut Saturday against the Cubs after slashing .254/.326/.572 this season at Memphis while tallying 34 homers, 90 RBI, 79 runs scored and 21 steals in 103 games. The 23-year-old is likely to immediately fill an everyday role upon joining the Cardinals and is worth picking up in virtually all formats. Cesar Prieto was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. |
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