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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Goes yard in three-hit effort
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 10:47 PM
Walker went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double and two additional runs scored Sunday's 11-7 loss to the Rays.
Analysis: Walker turned in his eighth career game with at least three hits, smashing his first homer of the year in the process. The 23-year-old was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and he profiles as a post-hype sleeper of sorts during his fourth season in the big leagues in 2026. Walker is set to be St. Louis' everyday right fielder moving forward, but he may need to move up a bit in the batting order to increase his fantasy upside. |
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Dustin May Dustin May Hit around in team debut
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 5:27 PM
May (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Rays, allowing six runs on 10 hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: May floundered in his Cardinals debut, getting knocked around for a career-high-tying 10 hits allowed and five extra-base knocks. The right-hander's pitch location was dodgy at beast, as May posted just four whiffs despite throwing 40 of his 61 pitches for strikes. With a tough matchup in Detroit versus the Tigers looming next weekend, May doesn't appear to be an appealing fantasy streamer at the moment. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church On bench against southpaw
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 1:13 PM
Church is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: Church had started against right-handed pitchers in the Cardinals' first two games of the season, going 3-for-8 with two runs and two RBI. However, with southpaw Steven Matz on the bump for the Rays in the series finale, the left-handed-hitting Church will cede left field to Thomas Saggese. |
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Nolan Gorman Nolan Gorman Sitting against southpaw
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 10:25 AM
Gorman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Rays.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Gorman was in the five spot in the lineup versus righties in each of the first two games of the season, but he'll sit out Sunday as the Cardinals go up against southpaw Steven Matz. Ramon Urias is at third base and batting sixth for St. Louis. Gorman has gone 2-for-8 with three RBI in the first two tilts of the season. |
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JoJo Romero JoJo Romero Nabs first hold Saturday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:53 AM
Romero struck out one in a perfect inning to record his first hold of the season in Saturday's extra-inning victory over Tampa Bay.
Analysis: The left-handed Romero was summoned in the eighth inning with a two-run lead and two lefty bats due up, but he wound up facing three righties after the Rays used a pair of pinch hitters. He needed 17 pitches to dispose of the Rays in order. Ryne Stanek has been used for both save chances for the Cardinals but has blown one opportunity and allowed six runners to reach base. Romero will continue to be used in high-leverage situations and get some save chances when the opposition has left-handed hitters due up, though the latter type of outings could be few and far between. |
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Matt Svanson Matt Svanson Rough start to season
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:43 AM
Svanson has been charged with six runs while recording just three outs across his first two appearances of the season.
Analysis: Svanson pitched the sixth inning with a two-run lead in the opener and the ninth inning with a four-run advantage in Saturday's win over the Rays. In the latter contest, Ryne Stanek had been warming up for a save chance before the Cardinals extended their lead and turned to Svanson. He was pulled mid-inning and charged with three runs in both outings. The usage for the right-hander hasn't been favorable, but he's also been very unlucky, sporting a .625 BABIP despite a 12.5 percent hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers in need of roster room might be forced to cut Svanson, but there's still lots to be sorted out in the St. Louis bullpen. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Registers first hold
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:27 AM
O'Brien yielded two hits in a scoreless frame to pick up his first hold of the season in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Rays.
Analysis: O'Brien was first out of the bullpen for the Cardinals in the seventh inning, called upon to protect a two-run lead after Michael McGreevy spun six no-hit frames. Junior Caminero broke up the combined no-hit effort by singling on the first pitch he saw but was immediately erased with a double play. O'Brien then yielded an infield single but finished off the inning with a groundout. The 31-year-old has now registered a win and a hold in his first two appearances, but the first two save chances for the Cardinals have gone to Ryne Stanek. |
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Ryne Stanek Ryne Stanek Picks up win despite blown save
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 6:29 PM
Stanek (1-0) blew the save but collected the win in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Rays, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits over 1.1 innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: With the Cardinals ahead 4-0, Matt Svanson got the call in the ninth inning but ran into trouble, and Stanek allowed two inherited runners to score before the tying run was added to his own ledger on a Nick Fortes single. Stanek allowed an additional run in the top of the 10th, but got bailed out when rookie JJ Wetherholt walked it off in the bottom of the frame. While Stanek has gotten the Cards' first two save chances of the season, converting the first one, he's looked shaky in both outings and has a 3.86 ERA and 3:3 K:BB in his first 2.1 innings of the season. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Plays hero again Saturday
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 6:21 PM
Wetherholt went 2-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Rays.
Analysis: With one out and runners on second and third in the 10th inning, Wetherholt walked it off by hooking a grounder into right field. The 23-year-old second baseman has made an impact in two straight games to begin his MLB career after homering in his debut Thursday, and while he also committed a throwing error Saturday, he has otherwise quickly established his credentials as an early favorite to win NL Rookie of the year. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Brilliant in no-decision Saturday
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 6:14 PM
McGreevy came away with a no-decision Saturday in the Cardinals' 6-5 extra-inning win over the Rays, striking out five and walking two over six scoreless, no-hit innings.
Analysis: The right-hander bamboozled Tampa Bay hitters over 96 pitches (57 strikes) before leaving the mound with a 2-0 lead, but the St. Louis bullpen fell apart in the ninth inning. As had been the case this spring, McGreevy was still having trouble finding his 2025 velocity -- he topped out at 92.2 mph on a first-inning four-seamer, and was having trouble breaking 90 mph in his later innings -- but that didn't stop him from getting outs. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Detroit. |
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Pedro Pages Pedro Pages Idle Saturday
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 9:50 AM
Pages isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Pages will take a seat after going 1-for-4 with a run scored during Thursday's season opener. Ivan Herrera will fill in as St. Louis' catcher while Nolan Gorman works as the designated hitter and Ramon Urias starts at third base. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Goes deep in major-league debut
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 11:07 PM
Wetherholt went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Rays.
Analysis: The top prospect made an immediate splash in major-league debut, taking Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen deep in the third inning. After making St. Louis' Opening Day roster this spring, Wetherholt appears to be set up in a favorable lineup spot right away after batting leadoff Thursday, which should aid his run-scoring potential going forward. |
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Ryne Stanek Ryne Stanek Hangs on for first save
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 10:10 PM
Stanek picked up the save Thursday against the Rays, allowing no hits and three walks in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: The right-hander drew St. Louis' first save opportunity of the year in his team debut, suggesting he's firmly in the mix for ninth-inning work. It's perhaps too early to tell if he'll get the bulk of the save chances in 2026, but Stanek appears to at least be worth a speculative pickup in fantasy leagues as this situation shakes out. JoJo Romero and Riley O'Brien worked the seventh and eighth innings respectively Thursday. |
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Matthew Liberatore Matthew Liberatore Holds Rays in check in season debut
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 9:53 PM
Liberatore didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Rays, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: Despite giving up seven hits, the left-hander was able to limit the damage to just one run on his ledger in his season debut. Liberatore topped out at 65 pitches during spring training, which he reached in his third Grapefruit League start, so he'll be looking to raise his pitch count even further his next time out after firing 78 pitches Thursday. Liberatore has a tough matchup at home against the Mets on tap for his second start of the year. |
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Masyn Winn Masyn Winn Hitting cleanup Opening Day
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 9:55 AM
Winn is starting at shortstop and batting cleanup in Thursday's opener versus the Rays.
Analysis: Winn is an atypical cleanup hitter -- this will be just his fourth career start in the slot -- but the rebuilding Cardinals don't have many middle-of-the-order options. It's a boost for Winn's RBI outlook, as he should have chances to drive in runs with JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera and Alec Burleson batting ahead of him. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Starting in left field in opener
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 9:52 AM
Church is starting in left field and hitting seventh in Thursday's opener against the Rays.
Analysis: Church is lined up to receive the bulk of the reps in left field versus right-handed pitching for the Cardinals while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is shelved. Nootbaar was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, so Church should receive an extended look. Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin are also in the left-field mix for St. Louis. |
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JJ Wetherholt JJ Wetherholt Batting leadoff in MLB debut
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 9:49 AM
Wetherholt will start at second base and bat leadoff in Thursday's opener versus the Rays.
Analysis: The Cardinals will not ease Wetherholt into his major-league debut, putting him atop their batting order. The team's other potential option in the leadoff spot, Masyn Winn, will hit cleanup. Wetherholt earned a spot on St. Louis' Opening Day roster by collecting a .386 on-base percentage with two home runs and two stolen bases during Grapefruit League action. |
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Hunter Dobbins Hunter Dobbins Goes on IL
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 1:45 PM
The Cardinals placed Dobbins (knee) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Dobbins is still working his way back from July surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. Though he's been able to steadily build up his pitch count throughout the spring through live batting practice sessions and simulated games, he's not yet been cleared for full fielding and agility drills. Once he clears that hurdle in the recovery process, Dobbins may not require an extensive rehab assignment, but the Cardinals aren't guaranteed to have a spot in the rotation available for him upon his return from the IL. |
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Lars Nootbaar Lars Nootbaar Goes to 60-day IL
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 1:38 PM
The Cardinals placed Nootbaar (heels) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Nootbaar began a running progression last week and took live batting practice Tuesday, but the Cardinals are planning to proceed cautiously with the outfielder, who underwent surgery in October to address Haglund's deformities on both of his heels. A firmer target date for Nootbaar's season debut should become available in the weeks to come once he ramps up the intensity and frequency of his on-field work, but he won't be eligible to debut until late May after landing on the 60-day IL. The transaction will free up a spot on the 40-man roster for top prospect JJ Wetherholt, who will be part of the Cardinals' Opening Day squad. |
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Jose Fermin Jose Fermin Slated for playing time in LF
Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 9:32 AM
Fermin is among those in the mix for starts in left field while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is sidelined, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Fermin is an infielder by trade but has played a bit in the outfield in the majors and at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old will vie for playing time in left field with Nathan Church and Thomas Saggese. Church is the lone left-handed hitter of the three and also the only traditional outfielder, so he likely enters the season at the top of the pecking order. However, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has said he does not plan to employ a strict platoon at the position. |
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