St. Louis Cardinals News

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JJ Wetherholt • 2B • Cardinals

JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals Agree on Long-Term Contract Extension

Rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to an undisclosed long-term contract extension on Friday that will buy out multiple years of free agency, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 23-year-old has been tremendous in his first big-league season and becomes the latest rookie to land a nine-figure contract. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia University has locked down St. Louis' second base job from the get-go in 2026, and he's hitting .267/.362/.411 with a .773 OPS, 13 home runs, 36 RBI, 57 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his first 87 games and 395 plate appearances in the majors heading into the final weekend of the first half of the season. Wetherholt currently ranks 12th in the big leagues with a 3.6 WAR this year. He's been hot going into next week's All-Star break as well, going 11-for-35 (.314) with a homer, two doubles, two RBI, and eight runs scored in nine games so far in July.

5 hours ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Is Joshua Baez Still the Top Stash Target Amid Triple-A Skid?

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has hit a brief skid at the Triple-A level but still remains an elite stash target in all formats. Over the last 10 games, the budding outfielder has taken a massive step back at Triple-A, posting a low .104/.154/.271 line with two doubles and two home runs. However, prior to this brief stint in the batter's box, the No. 48-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB.com carried an impressive .347/.389/.891 line with an eye-catching six doubles, 15 home runs, and two stolen bases over his last 24 games. Overall this season, Baez has held his own at Triple-A, launching 28 home runs, stealing 14 bases, and posting a .900 OPS. While there is no clear path to at-bats in the St. Louis outfield, his five-category potential keeps him atop all stash lists ahead of the All-Star break.

10 hours ago

Jordan Walker • RF • Cardinals

Jordan Walker a Hold With Home Run Derby Hype?

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker is headed to the Home Run Derby, but that should not automatically turn him into a sell-high candidate. The 24-year-old became the fifth confirmed participant for Monday's event in Philadelphia, joining Willson Contreras, Jac Caglianone, Junior Caminero, and Ben Rice. The fantasy line already fits the invite, too, with Walker batting .294 with 21 home runs, 70 RBI, 58 runs, 12 steals, and an .889 OPS over 343 at-bats. There is always some risk in buying after a first-half power surge, especially with Walker striking out 95 times. Still, this is not just All-Star Week noise. His 94.2 mph average exit velocity, 51.8% hard-hit rate, and 14.3% barrel rate back up the damage, and the stolen bases add another layer. Unless someone is paying like he is already a finished first-round bat, Walker looks more like a hold than a sell-high.

Yesterday

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Trending Up, is He a Stash Ahead of Eventual Debut?

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews has been pitching well all season for Triple-A Memphis, but has really been making the case for a major league debut since late May. Over his last seven starts, the Cards' sixth-ranked prospect has pitched to a 2.23 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a 21.4 percent K-BB% with 46 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. The southpaw's opponent batting average is just .178 on the year, but he has been prone to allowing home runs this season, with a gaudy 24.0 percent HR/FB%, and together with a 15.2 percent walk rate, it has likely factored into why he hasn't already made his debut in the majors. But with zero walks allowed in his last start, perhaps he's finally ready for the jump. The 25-year-old could be up by August, and with his strikeout potential, he could be a worthwhile stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues for managers looking for pitching help.

2 days ago

Andre Pallante • SP • Cardinals

Andre Pallante a Wins-and-Ratios Waiver Target?

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante is not the kind of arm who will carry a fantasy staff, but he keeps giving managers usable innings. The 27-year-old is 10-5 with a 3.60 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 70 strikeouts, and 27 walks through 95 innings and 17 starts. He also cleaned things up after a rough outing against Miami, holding the Cubs scoreless over 5 2/3 innings on July 3. The win total is doing some of the heavy lifting, but the ratios have been helpful enough to matter. The ceiling is limited because Pallante has only 70 strikeouts, so this is not a chase for swing-and-miss upside. Sitting at 37% rostered on Yahoo, he fits better as a 15-team league add for managers who need rotation stability, innings, and ratio help.

3 days ago

Michael McGreevy • SP • Cardinals

Michael McGreevy Given Extra Rest, Won't Start on Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy will be given extra rest and will not start either of the games during Tuesday's doubleheader versus the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Right-hander Matt Svanson will serve as the opener for Game 1 of the twin bill on Tuesday. McGreevy will most likely be pushed back to either Wednesday or Thursday against Milwaukee. The 25-year-old former 18th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara, has gone 3-7 with a 3.12 ERA (4.32 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 60 strikeouts and 22 walks in 95 1/3 innings pitched across 17 starts in 2026. McGreevy allowed a season-high five earned runs in five innings against the Kansas City Royals on June 19, but he's allowed only two earned runs with two walks and seven strikeouts in 12 innings in his two most recent starts against the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. In his first start against the Brewers this year on May 26, McGreevy allowed five earned runs with three walks and six K's in just four innings in a loss.

3 days ago

Dustin May • SP • Cardinals

Dustin May to be Limited to Around 65 Pitches on Monday

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dustin May (ankle) has been cleared to make his start on Monday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, but he will be held to around 65 pitches due to his workload over the last few weeks, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. The 28-year-old has had a couple of injury scares of late, most recently being pulled from his most recent start last Thursday against the Atlanta Braves after just two-thirds of an inning, when he was hit by a comebacker in his right ankle. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, but he'll be on a short leash after having not thrown more than 44 pitches in a start in three weeks. Not only is May's matchup to begin the week a bad one, but a limited pitch count will take him off the streaming radar. May should have a more regular workload this weekend in a rematch against the Braves, but he won't be very intriguing in that matchup either. May has been up and down in 2026 in his first year in St. Louis, going 5-6 with a 4.80 ERA (3.37 FIP) and 1.27 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 24 walks in 84 1/3 innings over his 16 starts.

4 days ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Do Joshua Baez's Elite Power Numbers Make Him the Top Stash Target?

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continues to show off his power with another multi-home run game in the bag already in July. Baez gained notoriety when he hit four home runs in a June game for Triple-A Memphis and has yet to slow down. His overall power numbers at Memphis are elite and some of the best power numbers across all levels of the minor leagues. In all, he is hitting .263 with 28 homers and 69 RBI and has added 14 stolen bases. The numbers seem to scream promotion, but the Cardinals are being extremely patient with the 23-year-old. With the likes of Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, and Lars Nootbaar manning the outfield positions, St. Louis is in good hands at the major league level. They can afford to be patient, but there is not much more to see from Baez before believing he is ready for the next level. Fantasy managers in mid-to-deep leagues would be wise to use a roster spot on Baez now and could potentially reap the rewards later.

4 days ago

Dustin May • SP • Cardinals

Dustin May is Scheduled to Start on Monday

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (ankle) is scheduled to take the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. This is positive news after the right-hander was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's outing. He took a comebacker off the ankle, and it was unclear if he was going to require a stint on the Injured List. He'll avoid a stint on the shelf and take the ball in an important divisional matchup on Monday. This decision will push Michael McGreevy back a day, so he'll pitch in one of the doubleheader contests on Tuesday. May has struggled during his last two outings, but was excellent throughout most of the month of June. Fantasy managers looking for pitching help should consider scooping him up off the waiver wire.

5 days ago

Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar is Absent Against Southpaw

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. This appears to be a regular rest day for Nootbaar, with the Cubs sending southpaw David Peterson to the mound. Nootbaar has started in 11 straight games, so he could use a rest day. In his place, Jose Fermin will cover left field and bat seventh on Friday. Due to injuries, Nootbaar has only played in 23 games this season. He's slashing .300/.387/.463 with two home runs and eight RBI in 93 plate appearances. He could be an under-the-radar deep league addition at the moment.

7 days ago

Dustin May • SP • Cardinals

Dustin May is Feeling Better on Friday

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (ankle) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's outing against the Atlanta Braves. He exited in the first inning due to a right ankle contusion, but the X-rays came back negative. On Friday, manager Oliver Marmol said that May's ankle is feeling better than expected. That is encouraging news for a pitcher who suffered an ankle injury less than 24 hours ago. He was planning to play catch ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Unfortunately, that didn't happen with thunderstorms looming over Wrigley Field. Given the improvement, the Cardinals are likely going to take this situation day-to-day. The right-hander could end up on the Injured List, but the team will probably wait and see how May progresses over the weekend. UPDATE: St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reports that May will not be placed on the injured list before Friday's game against the division-rival Cubs.

7 days ago

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Emerging as Upside Stash Target Amid Strong Run at Triple-A

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is showing off his upside this season. In 15 starts at Triple-A Memphis, Mathews has a 4-3 record with a 3.95 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. Since serving up four runs on May 22, the southpaw has logged 30 1/3 innings to the tune of a sharp 2.08 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. The high strikeout upside is the first thing that stands out and makes him extremely enticing as a fantasy starter. He has allowed 11 home runs, which is fairly high at this point in the season, but his overall numbers are very good. The fourth-round pick out of Stanford is eyeing a promotion to St. Louis and is looking for a spot in the rotation. Right now, the MLB rotation has five solid starters, so a call-up could depend on an injury. But Mathews has proven himself at the Triple-A level this season and could be an excellent addition in deep leagues as a wait-and-see target.

7 days ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez Extends Home Run Barrage on Thursday, Remains a Must-Stash Prospect

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continued to showcase his high-end power at Triple-A with another multi-home run effort on Thursday. Facing Charlotte, the team's top outfield prospect went deep twice and tallied three total hits with an additional stolen base. Since June 9 (his last 19 games of action), the No. 65-ranked prospect in the sport per MLB.com has gone deep an impressive 11 times while carrying a .240/.286/.707 slash line. On the season, Baez has posted a .267/.333/.617 line with 28 home runs and 14 stolen bases. While the outfielder does have some high swing-and-miss tendencies in his profile, his power and speed combination make him a must-stash prospect. Given his current power binge, Baez should be in strong contention to join the Cardinals shortly after the All-Star break.

7 days ago

Dustin May • SP • Cardinals

Dustin May Suffers Bruised Ankle on Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dustin May (ankle) left his start on Thursday night early against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning with a bruised right ankle, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals are calling it a "right-ankle contusion." Before hitting the showers early at Truist Park, May was lit up to the tune of five earned runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one in just two-thirds of an inning to balloon his season ERA to 4.80. It was a tough first outing for May, who was skipped from his last start due to tightness in his back. Dominic Smith hit a line drive off May's right ankle, which caused him to leave. He'll most likely undergo X-rays to see if he has a fracture or break in his ankle, but even if tests come back clean, May could be forced to sit out until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Fantasy managers will want to check back later for the results of his tests. The 28-year-old former third-rounder by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 was a popular waiver-wire pickup after a nine-inning, complete-game shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, but in his last two outings, he's surrendered 11 earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings. UPDATE: X-rays on May's right ankle came back negative.

Jul 2

Riley O'Brien • RP • Cardinals

Riley O'Brien Ties NL Lead With 21st Save

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Riley O'Brien picked up his 21st save of the season on Tuesday, marking his third save in as many appearances. O'Brien worked a clean inning while allowing one hit to seal the win over the Atlanta Braves. The save tied him for the National League lead as he continues to emerge as one of the premier ninth-inning options in MLB. The 31-year-old now owns a 3.82 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 34 strikeouts across 35 innings. After a difficult stretch in early June, O'Brien has put together a strong run of appearances and appears to be regaining his early-season form. He remains a high-end closer option in all fantasy formats.

Jul 1

Andre Pallante • SP • Cardinals

Andre Pallante Still Worth a Waiver Claim After Tough Outing?

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante is coming off a rough outing, allowing five earned runs on a career-high 11 hits over 6 2/3 innings against the Miami Marlins on June 27. One bad start should not erase an otherwise useful season. Pallante is 9-5 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts across 89 1/3 innings and 16 starts. Strikeouts are not the reason to add him. Pallante owns an 18.2% strikeout rate, but his 54.0% ground-ball rate and .309 xwOBA allowed help explain how he has kept his ratios manageable. His 3.96 FIP is also close to his actual ERA, giving fantasy managers less reason to expect a major collapse. A 36% roster rate on Yahoo keeps Pallante available in most leagues. He remains a solid 12-team addition for wins and ratios, though fantasy managers should expect occasional contact-heavy outings.

Jun 30

Dustin May • SP • Cardinals

Dustin May Lined Up to Start on Thursday Against Braves

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dustin May (back) is scheduled to make his next start on Thursday on the road at Truist Park against the Atlanta Braves, according to MLB.com. May came out of his last start on June 21 against the Kansas City Royals with some back tightness, but apparently the 28-year-old is ready to go for the upcoming week. He allowed six earned runs with a walk and two strikeouts in just two innings before being pulled against KC, but before that, May threw 15 shutout innings with two walks and 15 strikeouts in his previous two outings, including a nine-inning, complete-game shutout versus the San Diego Padres on June 15 in which he struck out a season-high nine batters. Before his injury last week, May fanned exactly nine hitters in three of his previous four starts and was firmly on the radar as a must-add off the waiver wire. He's 5-6 on the year with a 4.30 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 77 punchouts in 83 2/3 innings across his 15 starts in his first year in St. Louis. Although his next matchup against Atlanta isn't great, especially coming off an injury, May is still worth considering in mixed leagues for starting pitching depth as we get set to close out the first half. He's rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues.

Jun 28

Dustin May • SP • Cardinals

Dustin May's Next Start Being Skipped Due to Back Tightness

The St. Louis Cardinals are skipping right-hander Dustin May's (back) next start on Saturday against the Miami Marlins after he dealt with some lower-back tightness in Kansas City following his complete game the start prior on June 15 against the San Diego Padres, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. Right-hander Andre Pallante will now take the hill on Saturday, with righty Kyle Leahy going in the series finale on Sunday. May will start the third game of the series next week against the Atlanta Braves. May struggled his last time out against the Royals, lasting just two innings while allowing six earned runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts. The 28-year-old's complete-game effort against the Padres appears to have taken a toll on him physically in the short term. Not only will May not start this weekend, but his next start will come against the first-place Braves. The former third-rounder by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 has been up and down in 2026 in his first year in St. Louis with a 4.30 ERA (3.32 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and a still mediocre 22.5% strikeout rate in 83 2/3 innings pitched.

Jun 27

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez Slugging his Way to Major Leagues, On the Verge of a Call-Up?

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has been among the top power hitters in the minor leagues over the month of June and has put himself on the doorstep of a promotion. Since June 1, the top outfield prospect in the St. Louis pipeline has launched 10 home runs over just 19 contests while holding a .329/.365/.803 line while chipping in an additional two stolen bases. On the season, the No. 65-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB.com has posted a .273/.343/.626 line with a strong 949 OPS. Even though the Cardinals recently saw Lars Nootbaar return from his lengthy stint on the IL and Nathan Church return to center field, Baez's elite production has put him in must-stash territory. If he maintains this pace, he should debut shortly after the All-Star break and hold high-end five-category potential as soon as he receives the big leagues.

Jun 26

Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Is a Top Pickup Following His Return

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is still ramping up after his delayed start to the season, but he's shown enough signs to be a nice pickup if you need outfield depth. He seems fully recovered from the surgery he had on both his heels and has hit .341 over his last 12 games with three doubles, a triple, and a home run, boosting him to a .410 wOBA and a .953 OPS. Nootbaar hasn't stolen a base yet in his 17 games, but his power and run production are back. He has a 55.6% hard-hit rate and 13.3% barrel rate since returning and makes solid contact, especially against righties. The 28-year-old lefty won't be hitting leadoff after the emergence of JJ Wetherholt, but he still has enough thump in his bat to be a solid producer from the middle of the order for a surprisingly productive Cardinals' offense.

Jun 25

St. Louis Cardinals News

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