photo: Ryan Helsley (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals dropped both series last week and returned to last place. Closer Ryan Helsley is the National League Reliever of the Month. Our history feature highlights team happenings this week in prior years.
Helsley is NL Reliever of the Month
Congratulations to St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley, who was recently named the NL Reliever of the Month for March/April.
Helsley made 16 appearances and saved 10 games, both tied for the most in MLB. The right-hander posted an ERA of 1.69 with 19 strikeouts and only two walks.
In addition, Helsley’s fastball has averaged 99.3 mph.
Game recaps
Monday, April 29, 2024 – Cardinals at Tigers (postponed)
This game was postponed due to inclement weather. The game was made up as part of a traditional doubleheader on Tuesday, April 30.
Tuesday April 30, 2024 – Cardinals 2 at Tigers 1 (Game 1)
The Cardinals beat the Tigers in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Starter Kyle Gibson pitched seven innings, gave up one run on four hits, struck out nine and walked two.
Matthew Liberatore relieved Gibson and threw a scoreless eighth to earn his first win of the season. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, which held until the ninth. Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt singled. Arenado scored on a single by Alec Burleson. Goldschmidt came home on a sac fly by Pedro Pagés.
The Cardinals scored two runs on seven hits. Arenado and Ivan Herrera were each 2-for-3.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 – Cardinals 6 at Tigers 11 (Game 2)
The Cardinals did not fare well in the second game of the doubleheader. Starter Steven Matz pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up four runs on seven hits, struck out one and walked two.
27th man Kyle Leahy surrendered two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief and took the loss. Ryan Fernandez yielded one run in 1 1/3 innings. Giovanny Gallegos gave up four runs without recording an out. Nick Robertson tossed the final two scoreless innings.
Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They added single runs in the second and third.
St. Louis came back in the top of the fifth to briefly lead 5-4. Michael Siani singled. Brendan Donovan followed with a two-run home run. Nolan Arenado walked. Paul Goldschmidt singled. Alec Burleson blasted a three-run home run to left center field.
The Tigers scored three in the home half of the fifth to retake the lead 7-5. The Cardinals added one run in the top of the seventh. Lars Nootbaar doubled and later came home on a single by Burleson.
In the bottom of the seventh, Detroit added four more runs to widen the lead to 11-6.
The Cardinals scored six runs on 11 hits. Goldschmidt was 4-for-5. Burleson was 2-for-5 with four RBI. Donovan was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
In the field, Burleson had an outfield assist at second base.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 – Cardinals 1 at Tigers 4
The Cardinals lost the series in the final game at Detroit on Wednesday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings, gave up three runs on six hits and struck out four. Despite the quality start, Mikolas took the loss, his fourth of the season.
Matthew Liberatore relieved Mikolas and threw a scoreless seventh. JoJo Romero surrendered one run in the eighth.
Detroit took the lead 1-0 in the second inning and increased it to 3-0 in the third. St. Louis scored their only run in the fourth on a solo home run by Willson Contreras.
The Tigers added a final run in the eighth to make it 4-1.
St. Louis’ offense scattered seven hits. Michael Siani was 2-for-3 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits.
On the base paths, Siani was caught stealing for the first time.
Thursday, May 2, 2024 – Off day
Friday, May 3, 2024 – Cardinals 3, White Sox 0
The Cardinals blanked the White Sox in the first of a three-game series on Friday at Busch Stadium. Starter Sonny Gray pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one to earn his fourth win of the season.
JoJo Romero relieved Gray and threw a scoreless eighth. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
St. Louis went up 2-0 in the first inning. Willson Contreras doubled and Paul Goldschmidt walked. Nolan Arenado doubled to plate Contreras and Goldschmidt.
The Cardinals made it 3-0 in the fifth. Contreras walked and came home on a double by Arenado.
The offense scored three runs on six hits. Arenado was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Contreras was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
On the base paths, Masyn Winn stole his fifth base of the season. Contreras swiped his second bag. In the field, Contreras had a passed ball.
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – Cardinals 5, White Sox 6 (10 innings)
The Cardinals were beat by the White Sox, rain, and the home plate umpire in the second game of the series on Saturday. Starter Lance Lynn pitched five innings, gave up five runs, four earned, on four hits, struck out four and walked three.
Andrew Kittredge relieved Lynn and threw two scoreless innings. JoJo Romero hurled a scoreless eighth. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless ninth. Ryan Fernandez yielded one unearned run in the 10th and took the loss.
Chicago went up 2-0 in the first inning and added a run in the fourth.
The Cardinals came back in the fifth to lead 5-3. Nolan Gorman walked and Michael Siani singled. Brendan Donovan plated Gorman and Siani on a double. Willson Contreras walked. Nolan Arenado followed with a three-run home run to center field.
The White Sox tied the game with two runs in the sixth. The game went into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Chicago scored the ghost runner on a single by former Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham to lead 6-5.
In the bottom of the 10th, Arenado singled and Alec Burleson reached on a fielder’s choice. Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn struck out. Nolan Gorman came to the plate but before he was able to finish the at bat, the umpires called a rain delay, which lasted more than three hours. When the game resumed, Ivan Herrera pinch hit for Gorman. Herrera had a 1-2 count when home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor called a low and outside ball a strike, ending the game.
The Cardinals scored five runs on five hits. Arenado was 3-for-3 with three RBI. Donovan had two RBI.
0n the base paths, José Fermín stole his first base of the season. In the field, Gorman made a fielding error.
Sunday, May 5, 2024 – Cardinals 1, White Sox 5
The bad vibes from Saturday continued on Sunday as the Cardinals were soundly beaten by the White Sox and lost the series to a 6-25 team coming into the weekend. Taking Steven Matz’ turn in a spot start, Matthew Liberatore pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up one run on three hits and struck out five.
The bullpen game continued with Kyle Leahy in relief of Liberatore. Leahy threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Struggling Giovanny Gallegos was brought in next and for the second time in the week, he gave up three runs without recording an out. Gallegos was charged with the loss. John King surrendered one run in 1 2/3 innings. Nick Robertson tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Chicago scored one run in the second inning to lead. The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth on a solo home run by Willson Contreras.
The game got out of hand in the seventh as the White Sox scored four runs to lead 5-1. The Cardinals offense could not come back. The weak offensive showing produced four hits – Contreras’ long ball, and singles by Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn. The offense was 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base.
As the players left the field, there were audible boos from fans in attendance at Busch Stadium.
The Big Picture
The Cardinals regressed – from the 4-2 record last week to 2-4 this week. They lost 2 of 3 to both the Tigers and the White Sox. St. Louis briefly jumped to fourth place in the NL Central but was back in last place the next day. They are four games under .500 (15-19), 5.5 games behind the tied Brewers and Cubs and a half game below fourth-place Pittsburgh.
To be blunt, the offense continues to be atrocious. Only two hitters had an OPS over .900 over the last seven days. They are Nolan Arenado (1.053) and Michael Siani (1.000), with the latter likely heading to the bench due to Sunday’s return of Dylan Carlson from the injured list.
Willson Contreras barely missed the cut with an OPS of .891. In the basement are Masyn Winn (.243), Nolan Gorman (.306), and Lars Nootbaar (.327). Four players have an OPS in the .500-.600 range: Brendan Donovan (.512), Paul Goldschmidt (.519), Alec Burleson (.523), and Ivan Herrera (.572).
The lack of offense was an issue all April and now continues into May. Strikeouts are a major problem. Willson Contreras led the team with 13 strikeouts in six games. Close behind is Paul Goldschmidt with nine strikeouts in six games. The most concerning is Lars Nootbaar, who has always been an on base machine but has eight strikeouts in six games and an OBP of .160.
The pitching has hit a bump in the road as well. Three starters, Miles Mikolas, Lance Lynn, and Steven Matz all had ERAs over 4.00 for the week. Matz had an ERA of 10.80 in one start and is now on the IL with back issues.
The other concerns are in the bullpen, most particularly with Giovanny Gallegos. In two appearances over the week, the former closer was unable to record an out, and gave up a total of seven runs. John King has also struggled. Two former bullpen stalwarts, Zach Thompson and Andre Pallante, were optioned to Memphis because of poor performance, though Thompson has been struggling as a starter more so than as a reliever. The two are now working as piggyback starters in Triple-A.
The rotation has been disrupted by the injury to Matz, resulting in the bullpen game on Sunday. The team chose to juggle the rotation and use the bullpen in the final game of the series rather than call up a starter from Memphis. This resulted in losing the series to the White Sox and leaving the team with few options on Sunday due to the unavailability of their best relievers.
The Cardinals play the Mets in a three-game series starting on Monday followed by a four-game set in Milwaukee. There is no off day this coming week, so how the organization will deal with a rotation minus Matz for the next turn remains to be seen.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB |
| Milwaukee | 20 | 13 | 0.606 | |
| Chicago | 21 | 14 | 0.600 | |
| Cincinnati | 16 | 18 | 0.471 | 4.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 16 | 19 | 0.457 | 5 |
| St. Louis | 15 | 19 | 0.441 | 5.5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 4/30 The Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Kyle Leahy from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/30 The Cardinals transferred LHP Drew Rom from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Left shoulder biceps tendinitis.
- 4/30 The Cardinals sent CF Dylan Carlson on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 5/1 The Cardinals optioned RHP Kyle Leahy to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 5/2 The Cardinals sent DH Matt Carpenter on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
- 5/3 The Cardinals recalled RHP Kyle Leahy from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 5/3 The Cardinals placed LHP Steven Matz on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 1. Lower back strain.
- 5/5 The Cardinals optioned C Pedro Pagés to the Memphis Redbirds.
The third-string catcher is no longer needed with Willson Contreras now able to handle a full catching load. Though Pages is still looking for his first MLB hit, in two stints covering four plate appearances with St. Louis, he has a walk and a sacrifice fly.
- 5/5 The Cardinals activated CF Dylan Carlson from the 10-day injured list.
Originally expected to be the fourth outfielder this season, Carlson had a good spring and was slated to be the temporary starter in center while Tommy Edman was out. Instead, an outfield collision with Jordan Walker put Carlson on the IL as spring camp closed.
In four rehab games with Memphis, Carlson was 3-for-11 with a home run and three walks for a 1.012 OPS.
Injury Report
- CF Tommy Edman (arthroscopic wrist surgery) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to March 25. Edman is taking full swings off a tee. No timetable for a return has been announced.
- RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 25. Middleton threw off a mound on Saturday and is set to repeat this activity on Tuesday and Friday before being sent on a rehab assignment. Expected return is mid to late May.
- LHP Drew Rom (left bicep tendinitis) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60 day-injured list on April 30. Rom is expected to undergo left shoulder surgery.
- CF Dylan Carlson (left AC joint sprain) was activated from the 10-day injured list on May 5 and was in the starting lineup for the game against the White Sox.
- RHP Riley O’Brien (right forearm flexor strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list on March 31 retroactive to March 29. O’Brien has started a throwing program. No further updates are available.
- DH Matt Carpenter (right oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 2. Carpenter was sent on a rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals on May 2 and will relocate to Memphis this week.
- LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 3, retroactive to May 1. Matz had an MRI which revealed a protruding disc in his lower back. His return is unclear.
Looking Ahead
The Mets come to St. Louis for three games beginning Monday. Kyle Gibson will make the Monday start, followed by Miles Mikolas on Tuesday and Sonny Gray on Wednesday.
The next road trip begins with four Milwaukee against the Brewers beginning Thursday, May 9. The team then travels to Los Angeles for a three-game set with the Angels.
The Cardinals return to St. Louis on Thursday, May 16 and begin a weekend series on Friday with the Boston Red Sox. The homestand continues with three against the Baltimore Orioles, followed by an off day and a weekend series with the Cubs.
May ends with a three-game set in Cincinnati with the Reds, followed by a weekend series with the Phillies in Philadelphia.
Blast from the Past
In this week’s Blast from the Past, we look back at the period April 29 through May 5 to highlight unique events in Cardinals history. Some may have happened in a game, or they may be team related events that are odd or just notable.
April 29, 1936 – Cardinal pitcher Roy Parmalee pitched all 17 innings of a game against the New York Giants. Parmalee allowed one run on six hits, struck out nine and walked four in a 2-1 win over the Giants. New York starter Carl Hubbell also pitched the entire game.
April 29, 1960 – Stan Musial played in his 1000th game at first base, becoming the first player in major league history to reach 1000 games at two positions. Musial had also played in the outfield for 1,513 contests.
April 29, 1978 – The Cardinals tie a franchise record for the fastest nine inning game in major league history. The 1-0 win over the Dodgers took 1 hour and 33 minutes to play.
April 29, 2006 – Albert Pujols set a major league record for home runs in the month of April with 14. The 14th long ball was a solo shot off Jon Rauch of the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning of a 2-1 win.
April 29, 2007 – Cardinals’ reliever Josh Hancock was killed in an early morning alcohol-related automobile accident on Highway 40 in St. Louis. Hancock’s Ford Explorer hit a parked tow truck in the westbound lane. That evening’s game against the Cubs was postponed.
April 30, 2008 – The Cardinals set a franchise record for the most wins in the month of April with 18. NL rival Chicago Cubs also set their franchise record for wins in April with 17.
May 1, 1999 – Cardinals outfielder J.D. Drew set a team record for runs scored in a game with five in a 16-5 win over the Montreal Expos.
May 2, 1954 – Stan Musial becomes the first major leaguer to hit five home runs in a doubleheader. The twin bill was against the New York Giants.
May 4, 1954 – The Cardinals and the Phillies set a major league record by using a total of 42 players in a single game.
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