St. Louis Cardinals News

Nolan Arenado  • 3B  •  Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Starting In Cardinals Lineup

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is officially in the Cardinals' lineup for their Saturday night tilt against the Seattle Mariners and will start at third base as normal. Arenado was removed from Friday night's game in the ninth inning with left shoulder soreness. Given that the 33-year-old is back in the starting lineup and playing his normal defensive position, there shouldn't be much worry about the injury for Cardinals fans and fantasy managers alike going forward. Arenado has had a subpar season with his bat by his standards, hitting for just a 98 OPS+. With the Cardinals fighting for a wild card spot (6.0 GB) they will need Arenado to turn it up offensively for them to be able to have a shot at contention. He'll have a tough test on Saturday night facing off against Mariners' starter Logan Gilbert. Fantasy managers should keep Arenado in their starting lineups but DFS managers may want to temper expectations given the stout matchup.
1 hour ago   
Nolan Arenado  • 3B  •  Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Leaves Friday With Shoulder Soreness

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (shoulder) left Friday's game early with left-shoulder soreness in an eventual 6-1 loss at Busch Stadium to the visiting Seattle Mariners. Arenado went 1-for-3 with a strikeout in the contest before being replaced by pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter in the ninth inning. Until we know more on the severity of Arenado's shoulder injury, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back to see if he's able to play on Saturday. However, it would be wise to expect the 33-year-old to miss at least one game. If Arenado requires a stint on the injured list, there's a chance we may not see him for the rest of the 2024 season, while Jose Fermin would be the favorite to pick up regular starts at third. Arenado, an eight-time All-Star, has had a down year in his fourth season in St. Louis with just 15 home runs and 64 RBI in 134 games.
19 hours ago   
Lance Lynn  • SP  •  Cardinals

Lance Lynn To Return On Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) will come off the 15-day injured list to start for the Cardinals next Wednesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Lynn will return to the big leagues for the final couple weeks of the 2024 regular season and will be in play as a deep-league streamer with limited upside for several start to finish out September. He was able to get up to 80 pitches in a minor-league rehab start last Sunday in which he allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Lynn should be limited from a pitch-count perspective, but he just doesn't offer much upside at all at this point of his career and hasn't pitched for St. Louis since the end of July. On the flip side, Lynn has been great in his two starts against Cincy in 2024, allowing only three runs (one earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out 11 in 12 innings pitched.
20 hours ago   
Lance Lynn  • SP  •  Cardinals

Lance Lynn Has Mixed Bag In Rehab Start

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) had a tough time in his latest minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, giving up five earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Lynn threw 54 of his 80 pitches for strikes and should be able to return to St. Louis' starting rotation soon after being out since late July with inflammation in his right knee. However, there's also a chance that Lynn will be required to make one more rehab start after surrendering five runs on Sunday. When the 37-year-old does return to the big-league rotation, he'll be a low-upside arm for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to close out the season. The former first-rounder in 2008 out of Mississippi has a weak 20.8% strikeout rate and an ERA above 4.00 in 21 starts covering 106 1/3 innings in 2024.
4 days ago   
Pedro Pagés  • C  •  Cardinals

Pedro Pages Goes Deep Twice Monday

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages continued to produce at the plate in Monday's 9-3 loss to the Brewers. Pages went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs and a strikeout. The 25-year-old crushed a third-inning Freddy Peralta fastball off the back of the Brewers' bullpen wall and later hit a Peralta curveball over the left-field fence. Pages has earned more playing time in the second half of the season with Willson Contreras (finger) on the injured list, slashing .300/.323/.483 in 60 at-bats. The lineup around him may not be enough to allow for serious fantasy contributions, but he is a name fantasy managers could keep an eye on if they desperately need a hot bat behind the plate.
4 days ago   
Steven Matz  • SP  •  Cardinals

Steven Matz To Start On Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz, who was activated from the 60-day injured list on Sunday, will make the start for Tuesday's contest against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. The move to start Matz will give right-hander Erick Fedde an extra day of rest this week. Matz was available out of the bullpen on Sunday for the series finale in the Bronx against the New York Yankees, but he didn't pitch. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw has made only six starts for the Cards in 2024, and not since April 30. He wasn't very good in those six starts, yielding a 6.18 ERA and 1.73 WHIP while striking out only 17 and walking 11 in 27 2/3 innings, so fantasy managers should probably be looking to avoid him on Tuesday against the first-place Brewers. Matz is likely to head back to the bullpen after Tuesday's spot start, too, so leave him on the waiver wire in mixed leagues.
5 days ago   
Victor Scott II  • CF  •  Cardinals

Victor Scott II Retreats To The Bench

St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Victor Scott II is heading to the bench for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field with Michael Siani (oblique) returning to center-field duties. Scott had started in center field for the Cardinals for 10 of their last 11 games, but with Siani now back from an oblique strain that had kept him out since early August, he's likely to start on the bench more times than not down the stretch. The 23-year-old has also struggled at the plate in his first taste of major-league pitching in 2024, batting .168 (23-for-137) with two home runs, nine RBI, five stolen bases, 11 runs scored and a .211 on-base percentage in 45 games played. Scott may get an occasional start here or there in the final month, but he mostly figures to operate as a bench bat for St. Louis.
5 days ago   
Michael Siani  • CF  •  Cardinals

Michael Siani Returns To Lineup Monday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Michael Siani (oblique), who has been out since Aug. 4 with an oblique strain, is starting in center field and is batting ninth on Monday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Freddy Peralta at American Family Field. Siani was reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Sunday but wasn't available for the team's series finale in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old is expected to see the bulk of the action in center field for the rest of the season in St. Louis, and his return is mostly bad news for rookie Victor Scott II. Siani has mostly been useful to the Cardinals for his glove in center field in 2024 while providing decent speed for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. He's returning to a .256/.297/.325 slash line with only two home runs, 18 RBI and 14 stolen bases in his 234 at-bats this year.
5 days ago   
Lars Nootbaar  • RF  •  Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Homers, Knocks In Five

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar had a huge game on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBI. Nootbaar added a double and two runs scored in what was his best game of the season. While it was a great game, the 26-year-old just hasn't been able to live up to the potential he showed a few years ago, where he showed 20/20 capability. It hasn't helped that he has once again been injury-prone, and at this point Nootbaar will need to show fantasy managers something more before he becomes a viable option in standard leagues.
5 days ago   
Jordan Walker  • RF  •  Cardinals

Jordan Walker Does It All On Sunday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker had the best game of his career on Sunday, going 5-for-5 with a homer, four runs scored, three RBI, and a stolen base. Walker improved his AVG from .143 to .195 and his OPS from .439 to .566 in this game alone. It's been a difficult season for the former top prospect, but perhaps a game like this will build confidence for the 22-year-old. He doesn't need to be added in fantasy yet, but he could be a good post-hype sleeper candidate next year.
5 days ago   
Jordan Walker  • RF  •  Cardinals

Jordan Walker To Play Every Day

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has been recalled from Triple-A on Friday. This move comes after outfielder Tommy Pham was designated for assignment. That being said, Walker is expected to play every day going forward, according to Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. The Cardinals have high expectations for Walker that he hasn't quite lived up to yet. Last season, Walker did solid as he hit .276 with 16 home runs and 51 RBI in 117 games. In 2024, Walker is hitting .145 with four RBI in 24 games. He'll cover right field and bat seventh versus right-hander Marcus Stroman on Friday. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues don't need to rush to the waiver wire. It might be better to wait and see if Walker can bounce back at the plate before snagging him.
Aug 30   
Jordan Walker  • RF  •  Cardinals

Jordan Walker Back With Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals recalled outfielder Jordan Walker from Triple-A Memphis on Friday and designated veteran outfielder Tommy Pham for assignment in a corresponding move. The Cardinals brought Walker up from the minors earlier in August as well, but he went just 1-for-11 in six games before being sent back to the farm. The 22-year-old right-handed slugger should be with St. Louis the rest of the year with rosters expanding in September, but he's likely to be on the short side of a platoon against left-handed pitchers. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 was once one of the team's top prospects and hit .276 with 16 home runs in 117 games in his rookie season in 2023, but he's slashed .145/.228/.232 in 24 big-league games in 2024 with 21 strikeouts and no homers. Walker will be looking to turn things around in the season's final month to gain some positive momentum for 2025.
Aug 30   
Tommy Pham  • CF  •  Cardinals

Cardinals Put Tommy Pham On Waivers

The St. Louis Cardinals are placing veteran outfielder Tommy Pham on waivers on Thursday, according to team sources. The move comes just ahead of the league's postseason eligibility deadline of Sept. 1. Pham is eligible to play for the Cards until he is claimed by another team. If he's not claimed, he'll remain with St. Louis. If a team doesn't claim him ahead of Sunday's deadline, he will not be eligible to play in the playoffs with a new team. Entering play Thursday, the Cardinals had less than a one percent chance of making the postseason, according to FanGraphs. The Cardinals could gain some financial relief with the move, and it also suggests they could move to some younger talent in the final month in September. Since joining St. Louis, Pham has been operating in a platoon role and has hit just .206 (14-for-68) with two homers, 12 RBI and 16 K's in 23 games.
Aug 29   
Tink Hence  • SP  •  Cardinals

Tink Hence Sharp In Short Outing

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence struck out six batters and generated 15 whiffs in his 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday for Double-A Springfield. The Cardinals' No. 2 prospect allowed one run on three hits with two walks in his brief outing. Hence is 4-3 this season with Springfield with a 2.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. The 22-year-old has recorded 100 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings. Hence has the look of a future big-league ace and has produced a very good season at Double-A this year. He could be looking at a big-league debut at some point next season.
Aug 29   
Nolan Arenado  • 3B  •  Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Hits Walk-Off Single Against Padres

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado hit a walk-off single in Wednesday night's win over the visiting San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium, turning in his second game-winning knock in the past week. Arenado knocked a grounder into center field to score Masyn Winn in the ninth inning and give the Cardinals a 4-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday. The 33-year-old star third baseman is having a strong month of August as St. Louis looks to stay alive in the wild-card hunt, batting 29-for-96 (.302) with three home runs, 16 RBI, 11 runs scored, and one stolen base.
Aug 29   
Quinn Mathews  • RP  •  Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Promoted To Triple-A

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews has been promoted from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis. The 23-year-old southpaw starter will join his fourth team of the season after starting 2024 at Single-A Palm Beach. Mathews, the No. 60 overall prospect in baseball and St. Louis' No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is 8-3 on the year with a strong 2.27 ERA in 22 starts and leads all minor-league pitchers with 180 strikeouts in only 126 2/3 innings of work. The Stanford product has held a downright dominant 0.85 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 49 strikeouts with only five walks in his last 31 2/3 innings at Springfield. Mathews is one of the fastest-rising pitching prospects in the game and could spend considerable time in the Cardinal's starting rotation at the big-league level in 2025. Stash him now in dynasty/keeper leagues if he's available.
Aug 28   
Victor Scott II  • CF  •  Cardinals

Victor Scott II Sitting Against Padres

St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Victor Scott II is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium. Scott will take a seat after starting each of the team's last six games. The Cardinals will use Tommy Pham, Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson from left to right field, respectively, on Wednesday against Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove. Since returning to the big leagues on Aug. 5, Scott has hit .226 (14-for-62) with two home runs, four doubles, six RBI, three steals, three walks and 21 strikeouts in 19 games. However, he's currently riding a modest four-game hitting streak that has seen him go 4-for-14 with a homer, double, RBI, walk, stolen base and run scored. The 23-year-old outfield prospect has hit only .157 in his first 121 big-league at-bats, but he's intriguing for his speed in NL-only leagues to close out 2024.
Aug 28   
Paul Goldschmidt  • 1B  •  Cardinals

Paul Goldschmidt Tallies Up Three Hits, Homers

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had a big day at the plate in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the San Diego Padres. Goldschmidt went 3-for-3 with two singles, a two-run homer (two RBI) and a walk. The 36-year-old is having a down year at the plate, producing career-low numbers across the board. His slash line of .231/.292/.394 is the worst over his illustrious 14-year career. Hopefully, Tuesday's performance can help him turn around what has been a disappointing season and help him finish 2024 off strong.
Aug 28   
Nolan Arenado  • 3B  •  Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Absent On Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres. This looks to be a rare rest day for the veteran slugger. Arenado continues to be a productive offensive contributor, but his power numbers have taken a dip in 2024. The 33-year-old only has 14 home runs this season, but the good news is that he has six long balls in his last 34 games. It looks like Arenado is hitting his stride down the stretch of the season. Jose Fermin will cover third base and bat eighth against right-hander Dylan Cease. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a streaming option with Fermin hitting less than .150 on the season.
Aug 27   
Michael Siani  • CF  •  Cardinals

Michael Siani To Begin Rehab Assignment On Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Michael Siani (oblique) will play five innings in center field on Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis as he begins his minor-league rehab assignment. Siani was cleared to play in games again after taking part in a live batting practice session at Busch Field on Monday before the game against the San Diego Padres. He was cleared by doctors to resume swinging on Aug. 16 as he attempts to return from what manager Oliver Marmol called a "moderate" oblique strain. Siani was put on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 4. The 25-year-old has provided the Cardinals with Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field this year while also hitting .256 (60-for-234) with two homers, 18 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 101 games in his first full big-league season. Siani is mostly useful for his speed as a platoon player for St. Louis in deeper fantasy formats.
Aug 27   
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