St. Louis Cardinals News

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Thomas Saggese • 2B • Cardinals

Thomas Saggese Recalled

The St. Louis Cardinals have recalled infielder Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis. He's up to take the roster spot of infielder/designated hitter Nolan Gorman (back), who's on the 10-day injured list with a back issue. Saggese has yo-yoed between the majors and minors this season, offering vastly different production at the two levels. The 23-year-old has hit just .233/.256/.326 with one home run and 10 RBI in 90 trips to the plate with the Cardinals and will fill a bench role in his return. Saggese has been much better at Triple-A, where he has batted .317/.402/.445 with five homers, 24 RBI, 34 runs, and five stolen bases in 189 plate appearances.

11 hours ago

Nolan Gorman • 2B • Cardinals

Nolan Gorman Placed on 10-Day Injured List

The St. Louis Cardinals have placed infielder/designated hitter Nolan Gorman (back) on the 10-day IL with a back injury, retroactive to July 18. The team recalled infielder Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis to take Gorman's roster spot. Gorman was a late scratch from Friday's lineup and will now miss at least the next week-plus. The 25-year-old has batted .219/.310/.408 with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 226 plate appearances, though his .345 xwOBA suggests he has deserved a better fate. While Gorman has divided his time among DH, second base, and the hot corner, the Cardinals have capable regulars at each position with Ivan Herrera, All-Star Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado.

12 hours ago

Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Hopes to Resume Swinging on Monday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is hoping to start a hitting progression on Monday, per Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Nootbaar has been dealing with a left costochondral sprain in his rib cage and was placed on the 10-day injured list on the last day of the first half of the season last Sunday. He will be eligible to come off the IL next Wednesday, but that's unlikely to happen, and the Cardinals may want him to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment before activating him. Depending on his progress once he resumes swinging a bat, we may not see the 27-year-old back in the big-league lineup until early August. Until Nootbaar is able to return, Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker are all options to play the corner-outfield spots. Nootbaar has hit just .227 (75-for-331) this year with 12 homers, 37 RBI, 50 runs and four steals.

14 hours ago

Nolan Gorman • 2B • Cardinals

Nolan Gorman Scratched on Friday

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman (back) was scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks to begin the second half of the season. The Cardinals didn't give a specific reason for why Gorman was scratched, but he had been dealing with a back issue going into this week's All-Star break. With the 25-year-old starting on the bench, Brendan Donovan will take over at the keystone and will hit leadoff, with Jordan Walker entering the game in right field and batting seventh against D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Gorman, a former first-rounder, continues to be inconsistent with the bat for the Cards, as he enters the second half hitting just .219 (43-for-196) with nine home runs, 29 RBI and 31 runs. Donovan was an All-Star this year and has hit .571 with an RBI in seven career at-bats versus Pfaadt.

Yesterday

Nolan Arenado • 3B • Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Ready for Second Half

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (finger) is back in the starting lineup to kick off the second half of the season in Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt at Chase Field, starting at third base and batting fifth. Arenado is returning after missing the final two games of the first half of the year with a sprained right index finger. The 34-year-old eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner remains St. Louis' starting third baseman, but he's no longer in the prime of his career and continues to see a drop in his power numbers. Through 84 games in the first half in his fifth year with the Red Birds, Arenado slashed a mediocre .246/.305/.388 with a career-worst .693 OPS, 10 home runs, 42 RBI and 39 runs scored in 347 plate appearances. He has hit .286 with a homer and three RBI in seven career at-bats against Pfaadt.

Yesterday

Jordan Walker • RF • Cardinals

Jordan Walker to Return Friday

The St. Louis Cardinals will activate outfielder Jordan Walker (appendix) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. The team cleared room for him by optioning infielder Thomas Saggese to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday. Walker is coming back after undergoing an appendectomy that has kept him out since June 22. The former top prospect also spent time on the injured list earlier this season with inflammation in his left wrist. Walker has still managed to amass 191 plate appearances this year, but he has hit a miserable .210/.267/.295 with three home runs, 23 RBI, and a career-worst 33% strikeout rate. The 23-year-old worked on swing adjustments in the minors during his time away from the Cardinals, though it remains to be seen if that will spark a turnaround. While Alec Burleson has offered better production than Walker in right field, the latter could receive playing time with fellow outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) opening the second half of the season on the IL.

Yesterday

Ryan Helsley • RP • Cardinals

Ryan Helsley to Stay Put?

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley is a potential trade candidate as the July 31 deadline approaches, but he's "more likely" to remain with the team through the season, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Helsley will be a free agent over the winter, but even if the Cardinals don't re-sign the flamethrowing right-hander, they could get draft compensation back by issuing him a qualifying offer. In the meantime, Helsley could help the Cardinals chase down a playoff spot. They'll enter the second half of the season just 1 1/2 games out of wild-card position. While Helsley has helped the Cardinals' cause to this point, he hasn't been nearly as effective as he was from 2022-24. Over that three-season, 167 2/3-inning span, Helsley put up a lights-out 1.83 ERA with 12.08 K/9, 3.22 BB/9, and 82 saves in 95 chances. The 31-year-old has gone 19-for-24 on saves this season and pitched to a 3.27 ERA with 36:14 K:BB across 33 innings.

Yesterday

Thomas Saggese • 2B • Cardinals

Thomas Saggese Optioned to Triple-A

The St. Louis Cardinals have optioned infielder Thomas Saggese to Triple-A Memphis. The team hasn't made a corresponding move yet, though it could signal the return of outfielder Jordan Walker (appendectomy) from the 10-day injured list. The 23-year-old Saggese impressed in May with 14 hits and seven RBI in 41 at-bats, but his production has dropped off considerably since then. Dating back to June 20, Saggese has gone 6-for-45 (.133) with a double, three RBI, 12 strikeouts, and one walk in 14 games. Overall, Saggese has batted .233/.256/.326 with one home run and 10 RBI across 90 trips to the plate. He has been far more productive this year in Triple-A, where he owns a .317/.402/.445 line with five long balls, 24 RBI, 34 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 189 plate appearances.

2 days ago

Andre Pallante • SP • Cardinals

Andre Pallante Scheduled to Start on Friday

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante is scheduled to take the ball versus the Arizona Diamondbacks for the beginning of the second half on Friday. This is an interesting decision to give Pallante the start to kick off the second half of the season. Pallante most recently gave up seven earned runs in a start against the Washington Nationals on July 9. He holds a 4.49 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 64/32 K/BB ratio across 18 starts this season. He won't be a recommended streaming option for this game. Following Pallante, Sonny Gray will get the ball on Saturday while Miles Mikolas is set to pitch on Sunday.

2 days ago

Tekoah Roby • SP • Cardinals

Tekoah Roby Goes on Seven-Day Injured List

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds placed St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitching prospect Tekoah Roby (undisclosed) on the seven-day injured list on Monday. While Roby has dealt with shoulder injuries in the past, it's unclear if this is related. The team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has gone a combined 7-4 this year with a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 87:19 K:BB in 78 1/3 innings over 16 starts with Double-A Springfield and Memphis. The 23-year-old had been peaking recently with Memphis, striking out 21 and walking only five while giving up two earned runs in his last four starts. Hopefully, the former third-rounder in 2020 will be able to return sooner than later. Roby relies on a mid- to upper-90s fastball with a nasty curveball that generates a lot of swings and misses. Health has been his biggest issue, and it could deny him a chance to debut in the big leagues in 2025.

4 days ago

Ryan Helsley • RP • Cardinals

Ryan Helsley Escapes With Save

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley finished off a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, picking up his 19th save. Helsley made things interesting in this one, allowing a walk and a single before getting three straight outs, including a strikeout, to escape the jam. The 30-year-old fireballer has been decent this year, converting 19 of 24 save opportunities and pitching to a 3.27 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 33 IP. There are some worrisome signs, as Helsley has allowed too many baserunners and is striking out fewer batters than in previous seasons. Still, he hasn't been bad enough for the Cardinals to consider taking him out of the closer role, so fantasy owners should roll with him as long as he keeps getting the job done.

5 days ago

Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Placed on 10-Day Injured List

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) was placed on the 10-day injured list before their contest on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that this is the same injury that has bothered Nootbaar for the past few weeks. Nootbaar was lifted from Saturday's game due to discomfort. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during the All-Star break. Since the start of the month, the outfielder has posted a modest .219/.306/.375 with two doubles and one home run. Overall, he sits with a .227/.332/.381 line and a below-average .330 xwOBA. This afternoon, the Cardinals will give Jose Fermin the starting nod in left field. While he remains sidelined, Fermin, Brendan Donovan, and Alec Burleson should see most of the opportunities in left field.

6 days ago

Iván Herrera • C • Cardinals

Ivan Herrera Back in Action on Sunday

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera (hamstring) has been activated off the 10-day injured list and is in Sunday's lineup when they conclude a series against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon. The backstop has been out of action with a Grade 2 hamstring strain since June 20. While Herrera was not expected to return until the second half of the season, the Cardinals opted to give him the nod in the game before the All-Star break. This afternoon, he is serving as the designated hitter and batting in the two-hole. Throughout most of the first half, Herrera has seen time as a DH and not behind the plate due to his struggles defensively. However, in the batter's box, he has been very effective, boasting a .320/.392/.533 line. He is a solid option in DFS facing Atlanta starter Davis Daniel.

6 days ago

Iván Herrera • C • Cardinals

Ivan Herrera Getting Outfield Work

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera (hamstring) has begun getting "introductory workouts" in the outfield during his rehab assignment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Herrera hasn't played since June 19 because of a strained left hamstring. When he does return, the Cardinals plan to significantly cut his time behind the plate to reduce wear and tear. He'll primarily slot in at designated hitter upon activation, but occasionally lining up in the outfield would provide the team more flexibility to plug in various players at DH. Herrera's production this year has been stellar regardless of position. The 25-year-old has slashed .320/.392/.533 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 171 plate appearances. Herrera is on track to return to the St. Louis lineup after the All-Star break.

6 days ago

Jordan Walker • RF • Cardinals

Jordan Walker Still Without Timetable to Return

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (appendix) remains without a timetable to return to the major leagues, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Walker, who last played for the Cardinals on June 22, is on the 10-day injured list as a result of an appendectomy. The 23-year-old has returned to action on a rehab assignment in the minors, where he has been working on swing adjustments. Those changes have paid off lately, as Walker has homered twice in a three-game span with Double-A Springfield. Other than a promising rookie campaign in 2023, the former standout prospect hasn't hit much in the majors. Walker was batting an ugly .210/.267/.295 with three home runs and a 33% strikeout rate in 191 plate appearances this year before he went on the IL. The Cardinals have gotten much better production in right field from Alec Burleson, who's slashing .289/.334/.463 with 11 homers and 43 RBI over 312 trips to the plate.

6 days ago

J.J. Wetherholt • SS • Cardinals

J.J. Wetherholt Doubles in All-Star Futures Game

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop prospect J.J. Wetherholt hit leadoff for the National League team in Saturday's All-Star Futures Game, going 1-for-4 with a double in the contest that the NL team won 4-2. Wetherholt's hot hitting is what earned him a spot in the game, slashing .340/.460/.583 since June 3, including hits in each of his first three games at Triple-A Memphis. For the season, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect is hitting .303 with eight home runs, 14 steals, and more walks (45) than strikeouts (42). With a good showing at Triple-A, the team's 2024 first-round draft pick could make a late-season debut in St. Louis, otherwise, expect him to see plenty of time in the big leagues next season. The 22-year-old is expected to see time at third base and second base in addition to shortstop during his time at Triple-A, which should help open multiple paths to a promotion to the big league club.

6 days ago

Ryan Helsley • RP • Cardinals

Ryan Helsley Takes First Loss of Season

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season Saturday in a 7-6 game against the Atlanta Braves. Helsley came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning in a 6-6 game and surrendered a leadoff single to Nacho Alvarez Jr., who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Alvarez moved to third on a Drake Baldwin single before scoring on a Jurickson Profar groundout. Helsley didn't record any strikeouts or walks during an 11-pitch inning that snapped a modest streak of six straight scoreless appearances. The 30-year-old right-hander is having a decent season, but he hasn't been the lights-out option he was from 2022-24. Across 32 innings, Helsley has pitched to a 3.38 ERA with a mediocre 1.41 WHIP, 35:13 K:BB, and 18 saves in 23 opportunities.

7 days ago

Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Exits with Discomfort in Left Side

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (side) departed the team's game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday with left-side discomfort, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before the Cardinals replaced him in left field with Jose Fermin in the top of the sixth inning. Nootbaar has been trying to play through intercostal/ribcage soreness for the past couple of weeks, but he has missed multiple games and been pulled on more than one occasion as a result of the injury. With the All-Star break coming up, the first half of his season may be over. The 27-year-old has hit a modest .227/.332/.381 with 12 homers, 37 RBI, 50 runs scored, and four steals in 386 plate appearances.

7 days ago

Nolan Arenado • 3B • Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Held Out of Lineup on Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (finger) is not in the lineup for his team's game on Saturday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves. Arenado exited the Cardinals' loss to Atlanta on Friday night with a sprained right index finger so this news comes as no surprise. The veteran has been battling discomfort in the finger for several weeks but has yet to hit the injured list. For the season, Arenado has slashed .246/.305/.388 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI. His strikeout rate is a career-best 9.8%, but his 4.3% barrel rate is underwhelming, as is his .378 xSLG. He's a borderline fantasy option at this point in his career who needs everyday playing time to volume his way to production.

7 days ago

Nolan Arenado • 3B • Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (finger) exited Friday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta with a sprained right index finger. The eight-time All-Star missed a few games recently due to soreness in that same finger, so hopefully this does not become something that lands him on the injured list. Arenado is slashing .246/.305/.388 on the year, and although his strikeout rate is at a career low (9.8 percent), his barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and average exit velocity are also hovering near career lows, so it might not get much better for the remainder of the season. Perhaps an IL stint or even just the All-Star break will get his finger right, though.

7 days ago

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