St. Louis Cardinals News

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Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Cardinals Top Prospect Quinn Mathews to Make MLB Debut on Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews will be called up from Triple-A Memphis to make his major-league debut and start on Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 25-year-old 6-foot-5, 188-pounder should immediately be in play as a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in all league formats as the Cardinals' No. 7 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The former fourth-round pick in 2023 from Stanford University is getting the call to the Show after going 5-3 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 111:52 K:BB in 92 innings across 19 starts at Memphis this year. Mathews has been particularly effective since June, posting a sharp 1.55 ERA in his 52 1/3 innings. He features a fastball, sinker, slider, and a changeup, and he'll occasionally mix in a curveball for good measure. Mathews has plenty of strikeout upside with an 11.5 K/9 in his three minor-league seasons, but mechanical issues have hurt his command/control at times. He could have a strong MLB debut this weekend against a Blue Jays offense with the second-worst OPS (.684) in all of baseball in 2026.

6 hours ago

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Deals Gem in Latest Triple-A Start

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is coming off a superb start at Triple-A Memphis in which he hurled seven shutout innings with three hits and an unearned run with 10 strikeouts against three walks. Mathews picked up a win for his efforts, moving his overall record this season to 5-3. The left-hander has spent the entire season at Memphis, compiling a 3.13 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 111 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched. In four July starts, Mathews has racked up a 1.04 ERA and 0.77 WHIP as he has raised the level of his game as the summer months have heated up. The No. 7 prospect on the Cardinals' list, Mathews boasts a 60-grade changeup and a 55-grade slider. After four years at Stanford, the 25-year-old is nearing big league ready and it would be wise to add him now before a potential late-season promotion.

11 hours ago

Rainiel Rodriguez • C • Cardinals

Rainiel Rodriguez Defying Youth With Production at Double-A

St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez had another multi-hit game on Wednesday night and is hitting .303 in Double-A Springfield during July. In 76 July at-bats, Rodriguez has five homers and 13 RBI with 10 runs scored while hitting north of .300. At 19 years old, the right-handed-hitting catcher is the top prospect in the Cardinals' system, making him enticing as a stash candidate even for this year. However, St. Louis is loaded at catcher at the big league level with Ivan Herrera, Jimmy Crooks, and Pedro Pages. Being that Rodriguez is just 19 years old, the Cardinals could choose to wait on a big-league debut for him, especially with the vast experience they already have in St. Louis at the position. Rodriguez looks like a dynamite dynasty league option, but in a redraft league it might be wise to regroup at the position next season.

14 hours ago

Riley O'Brien • RP • Cardinals

Riley O'Brien Unavailable Sunday Due to Illness

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien (illness) was unavailable for Sunday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds. George Soriano instead worked the ninth inning of a 2-2 game, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless frame. Matt Svanson entered in the 10th and was charged with three runs, two earned, on two hits while recording one out as Cincinnati pulled ahead for good. O'Brien should be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs. He remains St. Louis' primary closer after recording his 26th save Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. The Cardinals are also without JoJo Romero, who is on the 15-day injured list following an emergency appendectomy. If O'Brien remains unavailable, Soriano or Ryne Stanek could receive the next save opportunity.

3 days ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez Continuing to Mash at Triple-A Memphis

St. Louis Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez has surpassed the 30 homer plateau this year at Triple-A Memphis as he continues to make a case for promotion to the big league club. Baez now has 31 homers and 77 RBIs in 360 at bats while hitting .244 with 69 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. The overall numbers for the former second-round pick are outstanding and now might be the time to stash the right-handed power hitter. In his past two games, Baez has hit homers, making it now or never to make a waiver wire move on the minor-league stud. The batting average in July is only .167 for Baez, but the power numbers have more than made up for it. The Cardinals could use a power boost and Baez can easily provide that given the call. He will have to improve the overall hitting but the power will play at the next level.

3 days ago

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Making Case for MLB Debut Following 10-Strikeout Effort

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews turned in another stellar effort at Triple-A on Friday evening and is on the verge of reaching the major leagues. Facing Triple-A Durham, the southpaw struck out an impressive 10 hitters over seven innings of three-hit ball. He walked only three batters and allowed one unearned run. Since May 28, the Stanford product has been among the most dominant pitchers at the top level in the minors and is making a strong case to join the Cardinals. During these noted 56 1/3 innings, the left-hander has posted a sharp 1.60 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP while holding a 67:22 K:BB. While there may not be a clear opening for the left-hander, his recent surge makes him a top prospect to stash among pitchers, as his debut could occur in early August.

5 days ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

July Skid Puts MLB Debut in Question for Joshua Baez

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has endured a tough skid in July, which has delayed his eventual MLB debut. Since the start of the month, the young slugger in the St. Louis system has carried a modest .138/.239/.328 line. During this 15-game stretch, he has not shown his typical high-end power potential, hitting only three home runs, including a grand slam on July 17 and a two-home run effort on July 2. On the season, Baez has hit 29 home runs and even swiped 15 bags while holding a .241/.313/.551 line with a .864 OPS. While this stretch at the plate likely delayed an immediate promotion, his high-end five-category promotion keeps him at the top of most stash boards ahead of Week 18. He would immediately emerge as a must-start option for fantasy as soon as he earns the call.

6 days ago

Tai Peete • OF • Cardinals

Tai Peete Red-Hot in Return to High-A Peoria

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Tai Peete is on fire since returning to High-A Peoria with two homers and six RBI in four games back from injury. Peete was recovering from a concussion and has done so nicely. He has played three games on a rehab assignment with the FCL Cardinals but has spent the rest of the season at Peoria. With Peoria, Peete has racked up seven homers and 30 RBI to go with 28 runs scored while hitting .281. At age 20, Peete checks in at No. 17 on the Cardinals' top prospects list. He received a 55-grade power and 60-grade run tool, so he has the potential for fantasy production. He might need some time to progress through the minors, though, at such a young age. A dynasty prospect for sure, it is worth monitoring Peete's progress in the minors, and he could see time in St. Louis in a year or two.

7 days ago

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews a Stash-Worthy Pitcher for Second Half

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews appears to be on the precipice of a major league debut after a strong season at Triple-A Memphis. The southpaw has been rolling as of late, allowing two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, but for the most part, he's been pitching well all year. Take away his worst three starts of the year, the Cards' sixth-ranked prospect owns a 1.89 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in the other 15 starts. Not to mention 101 strikeouts in 85 total innings pitched are also very usable for fantasy. Opponents are batting .171 off of him on the year, so if he can translate some of that success to the majors, he could be a productive pitcher for fantasy over the final two months of the season. Look for the 25-year-old to debut in the coming weeks, and managers in deeper 12-team leagues should consider stashing him in an NA spot ahead of time.

Jul 22

Masyn Winn • SS • Cardinals

Masyn Winn's Everyday Role Keeps Him in the 12-Team Mix

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn has not supplied much power, but the everyday role keeps him in the 12-team conversation. He is batting .241 with four home runs, 42 RBI, 39 runs, and eight steals across 328 at-bats. Winn has started all four games since the All-Star break, each at shortstop and in the No. 6 spot. Monday was quiet, an 0-for-3 night with one strikeout in a 3-2 loss to the Angels. That is not really the point here. Winn plays, puts the ball in play often enough, and can steal a base. Not exciting. Still useful. His Yahoo roster rate remains at 34%, while RotoBaller lists him as an add in 12-team and deeper leagues. Winn is a low-ceiling middle infielder, but he can cover a roster hole without being a zero across the board.

Jul 21

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Closing in on MLB Debut After Latest Outing

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews continued to impress in his latest start at Triple-A over the weekend, allowing just one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings pitched. It was the eighth time in his last nine starts that the southpaw yielded two earned runs or fewer, pitching to a 1.82 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 20.7 K-BB% over that stretch. For the season, the Cards' sixth-ranked prospect owns a 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 15.0 percent K-BB% in 18 starts, but this recent nine-game stretch could give the team plenty of confidence in giving the 6-foot-5 hurler his long-awaited shot in the majors. The 25-year-old has plenty of strikeout potential, so if he can just limit the walks as he has in this recent run of success, then there is enough fantasy appeal here to make the Stanford product worth stashing in deeper 12-team leagues ahead of his eventual call-up.

Jul 21

Riley O'Brien • RP • Cardinals

Riley O'Brien Stumbles in Fifth Blown Save, Continues to Lose Fantasy Value

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien came into Monday's game with a 2-1 lead and struck out Mike Trout to start the inning. Unfortunately, things went downhill for him from there, as he gave up a single, a hit-by-pitch, a double, an intentional walk, and another hit-by-pitch to allow two runs and turn the 2-1 lead into a 3-2 defeat. The Cardinals bullpen collapsed on Sunday against the Diamondbacks as well, but O'Brien wasn't involved in that contest. The 31-year-old righty is 3-4 with a 3.76 ERA and 3.50 FIP on the season and has picked up 25 saves in his 41 games. He had seven saves in his previous eight scoreless outings, and he's still a strong closer, although his save opportunities have diminished as the Cardinals have started to struggle after their hot start. In most leagues, he's still worth holding at this point, but his value is slipping, and he would be a drop candidate in standard-sized leagues with more outings like Monday's.

Jul 21

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez Powering Up at Triple-A Memphis

Following a grand slam in a game for Triple-A Memphis over the weekend, St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continued to build his case for a big league promotion. The power numbers for the talented outfielder look gaudy on the season for Memphis as he has racked up 29 homers and 79 RBI to go with 65 runs while hitting .245. Baez has a four-homer game to his name as he showed off his power potential. Baez, the No. 3 overall prospect in the Cardinals' system, could be a difference maker in fantasy circles over the second half of the season. The right-handed hitting, former second-round pick, is a proven power bat that can benefit the Cardinals and fantasy teams, he just needs an opportunity to play at the big-league level. If Baez is still available in your league, rush to the waiver wire to add him.

Jul 20

JoJo Romero • RP • Cardinals

JoJo Romero is Unlikely to Return in July

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero (appendicitis) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Friday. Romero is currently being treated for appendicitis and appears unlikely to return when first eligible. He could return on July 29, but it doesn't sound like he'll be ready to pitch until at least August. This news is probably going to impact his value ahead of the trade deadline on August 3. Romero has been arguably the best reliever in St. Louis this season. He owns a 3.35 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 43/16 K/BB ratio across 44 appearances this season. Due to his lack of saves, Romero isn't someone who needs to be rostered in most fantasy formats that don't count holds.

Jul 19

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Target Quinn Mathews as a High-Upside Stash

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is red-hot in July and is coming off an excellent pitching outing on Saturday for Triple-A Memphis. Mathews went six innings and allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts in a no-decision. With his start on Saturday, Mathews lowered his July ERA to 1.42 with a 0.74 WHIP in three starts during the month. Altogether in Memphis this year, Mathews is 4-3 overall with a 3.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched. A fourth-round pick out of Stanford, Mathews has risen to the Cardinals' No. 6 overall prospect. The strikeout upside of Mathews makes him a tantalizing prospect on the waiver wire, and fantasy managers should act accordingly. His upside makes him worth an early shot, and he could pay off with a strong second half.

Jul 19

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez's MLB Debut Remains Within Reach After 473-Foot Grand Slam

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez turned in another show-stopping performance at Triple-A Memphis as his MLB debut approaches. On Friday evening, the young outfielder went 1-for-4 with a 473-foot grand slam against Iowa. While Baez has been very impressive at Triple-A this season, he has hit a somewhat cold slump at the plate. Over his last 15 contests (including Friday's game), Baez has posted a low .121/.200/.310 line with just three long balls and a stolen base. However, prior to this skid, the 23-year-old held a much-higher .275/.345/.634 line with 14 doubles, 26 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Even though there is not a clear spot for him in the St. Louis outfield, his high-end five-category potential makes him a priority stash across all formats ahead of Week 17.

Jul 18

JoJo Romero • RP • Cardinals

JoJo Romero is Placed on 15-Day Injured List

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero (appendicitis) was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to July 14. This is a tough blow to the Cardinals' bullpen to begin the second half of the season. Romero has been one of the best relievers on this roster. The southpaw has allowed one earned run over his last 10 innings of work. It's unclear how much time he'll need on the IL, but Romero will at least be sidelined until the end of July. In a corresponding move, reliever Scott Blewett has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Romero is worth holding in fantasy formats where holds matter. He figures to get back on the mound at the end of July or early August.

Jul 17

Michael McGreevy • SP • Cardinals

Michael McGreevy Gets the Nod on Friday

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy will take the ball for the second half opener versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The right-hander is well deserving of the No. 1 starter role after posting a strong first half of the season. Through 18 starts, McGreevy posted a 3.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 66/23 K/BB ratio across 101.2 innings of work. The plan is for Dustin May to get the ball on Saturday, while Andre Pallante gets the series finale on Sunday. McGreevy didn't earn an All-Star nod, but could be a valuable fantasy asset in mixed leagues down the stretch of the season.

Jul 16

Rainiel Rodriguez • C • Cardinals

Rainiel Rodriguez Resolidifying Status as Strong Dynasty Asset

St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez put an exclamation point on the end of a strong first half by blasting another home run at Double-A Springfield in his last game before the break. The Cards' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 12) was promoted to Double-A in mid-May and really found his footing there over the last month. From June 10 through July 10, the 5-foot-10 Dominican went 31-for-95 (.326) with five doubles, seven home runs, and four stolen bases in 23 games. The 19-year-old is slashing .262/.361/.436 overall at Double-A with eight home runs in a total of 44 games there, an impressive feat for one of the youngest players at that level, joining MLB's No. 1 and No. 2 prospects, Jesus Made and Leo De Vries, as the only players under the age of 20 at Double-A. Look for a strong second half from the young backstop, with a potential late-season promotion to Triple-A, and he could be knocking on the door to the majors in 2027, so even redraft fantasy managers should be familiar with the name.

Jul 16

Iván Herrera • DH • Cardinals

Is Ivan Herrera a Buy-Low Target Behind the Plate for the Second Half?

St. Louis Cardinals catcher/designated hitter Ivan Herrera has improved his plate discipline in the first half of the season, cutting down on his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate. His batting average has dropped as well, though, and his ISO and SLG are both below his numbers from the last two years. The Cardinals have tried to keep the 26-year-old fresh by playing him just 36 games behind the plate and 59 games at designated hitter. Hopefully, his fresher legs will lead to more power in the second half, but he struggled over the past 20 games, with just a .183 batting average and 26.8% hard-hit rate. His track record over the last few seasons does give him upside in the second half. After the All-Star break last season, he hit .260 with 11 homers and a .344 wOBA. Since he's in a prime lineup spot, hitting second for the Cardinals, he has the potential for a nice bounce-back in the second half and could be a nice pickup if his current manager is down on him due to his slump.

Jul 16

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