photo: Lars Nootbaar (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Coming out of the break, the St. Louis Cardinals won two of three in Atlanta. Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson have been leading the offense. Our history feature highlights notable former Cardinals who debuted during the past week.
Game recaps
Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18, 2024 – All-Star Break
Friday, July 19, 2024 – Cardinals at Braves (postponed to Saturday)
Saturday, July 20, 2024 – Cardinals 2 at Braves 3 (10 innings, game one)
The St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a twin bill on Saturday. Starter Kyle Gibson pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out six and walked two.
Ryan Fernandez relieved Gibson and allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings to take the blown save. Andrew Kittredge threw a scoreless ninth. Losing pitcher Chris Roycroft yielded one unearned run in the 10th.
The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when the Cardinals went up 1-0. Masyn Winn tripled and scored on a single by Alec Burleson. St. Louis added a run in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado.
The Braves answered with two runs in the home seventh to tie the game at 2-2.
The game went into extra innings and in the bottom of the 10th, Atlanta pushed across a run to win in a walk off 3-2.
The Cardinals scored two runs on nine hits. Winn was 2-for-5. Lars Nootbaar was 2-for-3.
Saturday, July 20, 2024 – Cardinals 9 at Braves 5 (game two)
The Cardinals beat the Braves in the second game of the twin bill 9-5. Starter Sonny Gray pitched seven innings, gave up five runs on eight hits and struck out 10 to receive his sixth win of the season.
27th man Kyle Leahy relieved Gray and tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first save.
The Cardinals put up one run in the top of the first inning. Masyn Winn tripled and scored on a sac fly by Alec Burleson.
In the home first, Atlanta tied the game. St. Louis responded with four runs in the second for a 5-1 lead. Nolan Arenado singled. Nolan Gorman hit a two-run home run. Michael Siani drew a walk. Winn singled. Burleson plated Siani on a single. Willson Contreras drove in Winn on a single.
The Braves plated one run in the fourth to cut the lead to 5-2. The Cardinals made it 6-2 in the fifth on a solo home run by Brendan Donovan.
The Braves added three runs in the sixth to shrink the lead to 6-5. The Cardinals responded with three runs in the ninth to win 9-5. Siani singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Siani came home on a single by Burleson. Contreras singled. Burleson and Contreras scored on a single by Donovan.
The offense scored nine runs on 14 hits. Burleson was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Donovan was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Contreras was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Winn was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Gorman had two RBI.
On the bases, Siani stole two bases. Lars Nootbaar swiped his fourth bag.
Sunday, July 21, 2024 – Cardinals 6 at Braves 2
The Cardinals defeated the Braves to take the series, 2-1 and the season series with the Braves. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked one to earn his eighth win of the season.
The pen contributed three scoreless innings. Ryan Fernandez took the seventh, Andrew Kittredge the eighth and Ryan Helsley the ninth.
The Cardinals took the lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Paul Goldschmidt, who had been moved to the seventh spot in the order. In the third, a solo home run by Alec Burleson increased the lead to 2-0.
The Braves scored one run in the home half of the third. St. Louis made it 3-1 in the fourth on a solo home run by Lars Nootbaar. A fourth run scored in the top of the fifth as Michael Siani singled and later came home on a single by Burleson.
Atlanta scored a second in the bottom of the fifth to shrink the lead to 4-2.
St. Louis put up one run in the eighth on a solo home run by Willson Contreras to widen the lead to 5-2. In the ninth, a final run raised the score to 6-2. Nolan Gorman drew a walk. Siani singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Gorman scored on the error.
The Cardinals scored six runs on nine hits. Burleson was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Siani was 2-for-4.
On the bases, Siani stole his 13th base of the season.
Draft apparently complete
The Cardinals have reportedly come to terms with 18 of 19 players selected in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, completing the negotiating process. Full details here:
The Big Picture
The Cardinals won two of three from the Braves over the weekend, which gave then a 4-2 season series advantage over Atlanta. This is important in the postseason for seeding purposes. The Cardinals are 52-47 on the season and remain in second place in the NL Central, five games back of the Brewers.
This shortened week showcased improved offense and adequate pitching. Kyle Gibson, who arguably pitched the best in the series, took a no decision thanks to the bullpen in the extra innings loss. Sonny Gray pitched seven innings and punched out 10 Braves hitters, but gave up five runs in the process, including four home runs. Mikolas pitched better against the Braves than he did in his last start against the Cubs.
The top offensive performers over the last seven days are Lars Nootbaar (1.300), Alec Burleson (1.043), Masyn Winn (1.043) and Willson Contreras (1.000). At the bottom is Paul Goldschmidt (.487). In the final game of the Braves series, Goldschmidt was moved down in the lineup to the seventh spot and hit a home run in his first at bat.
The ERAs for the three starters in Atlanta: Gray (6.43), Mikolas (3.00) and Gibson (1.35). The bullpen did its job, most especially Kyle Leahy, who was the 27th man for the doubleheader and threw two scoreless innings to close out the second game. He was optioned back to Memphis the next day.
The team goes to Pittsburgh for three and will once again have to face Paul Skenes. The Cardinals lost the last game against Skenes but got five hits against him. The first place Brewers were no-hit by Skenes when they faced him last.
Over the weekend, the Cardinals will play the World Series Champion Texas Rangers at home. The Rangers are below .500 and are in third place in the AL West.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB |
| Milwaukee | 57 | 42 | 0.576 | |
| St. Louis | 57 | 46 | 0.525 | 5 |
| Pittsburgh | 50 | 49 | 0.505 | 7 |
| Chicago | 48 | 53 | 0.475 | 10 |
| Cincinnati | 47 | 53 | 0.470 | 10.5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Cardinals have “strong interest” in pitcher Erick Fedde. The right-handed starting pitcher is expected to be made available by the White Sox leading up to the July 30 trade deadline.
Transactions
- 7/19 The Cardinals sent RHP Riley O’Brien on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/20 The Cardinals recalled RHP Kyle Leahy from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/21 The Cardinals optioned RHP Kyle Leahy to the Memphis Redbirds.
Injury Report
- CF Tommy Edman (arthroscopic wrist surgery) was transferred to the 60-day injured list from the 15-day injured list on May 6. Edman had another setback because of lingering pain from his prior ankle sprain. He received an anti-inflammatory injection. After rest, Edman is scheduled to resume his rehab assignment with Springfield on Tuesday. He has yet to play in the field.
- RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on June 22. Middleton underwent season ending forearm surgery. The right hander will not throw a pitch for the Cardinals this season.
- LHP Drew Rom (left bicep tendinitis and left shoulder surgery) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60 day-injured list on April 30. Rom underwent left shoulder surgery. The left hander is expected to be out until at least September.
- RHP Riley O’Brien (right forearm flexor strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 10. O’Brien has begun a rehab assignment with the Memphis Redbirds.
- LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on June 28. Matz has thrown two bullpen sessions and is close to a live batting practice session. Return is still hopeful for August, with the caveat that his role will depend on the Cardinals moves at the trade deadline.
- RHP Ryan Helsley did not pitch in the All-Star Game due to some hip tightness. Manager Oli Marmol told reporters that Helsley was available to pitch in the doubleheader on Saturday, but he did not make an appearance until Sunday.
Looking Ahead
Following the series with the Braves in Atlanta, the Cardinals are in Pittsburgh for a set with the Pirates. Andre Pallante is scheduled to make the Monday start, followed by Lance Lynn on Tuesday and Kyle Gibson on Wednesday.
After a travel day on Thursday, July 25, the Cardinals take on the Nationals at Busch Stadium. The final series in July will be three with the Texas Rangers in St. Louis.
August begins at Wrigley Field for a four-game series with the Cubs. The Cardinals return to St. Louis to play a rain makeup game with the Mets on Monday, August 5. Next will be three against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The team takes a road trip following the Rays series. The Cardinals head to Kansas City for two to complete the home and home series. They then travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds in a three-game series.
After a travel day, the Cardinals begin a weekend series at Busch Stadium with the Dodgers starting on August 16.
Blast from the Past
This week’s Blast from the Past returns again to the Debut Series, which showcases major league debuts of notable Cardinals.
This week we remember three former Cardinals, one from the Whitey Herzog era and two 21st century Cardinals. These players made their major league debut during the period July 15 through 21.
The following list contains the name of the former Cardinal, the date on which he debuted, in what game he debuted, and how he performed.
Terry Pendleton – The third baseman for Whitey Herzog’s Cardinals made his major league debut on July 18, 1984 in a game against the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium II. The Cardinals won 8-4 in 11 innings.
Pendleton started at third and batted sixth. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI. In his first at bat in the second inning, Pendleton singled but was left stranded. His first major league hit was off Giants starter Atlee Hammaker.
In the fourth inning, Pendleton flied out to center. Pendleton singled again in the sixth inning, scoring Tom Herr for his first major league RBI.
In the eighth, Pendleton drew a walk and was picked off first base but advanced to second on an error by the pitcher.
Pendleton hit his third single of the game in the 10th and was left on base. Pendleton batted again in the 11th and hit a ground out to the catcher as Herr was tagged out at home. Pendleton scored on a home run by Darrell Porter.
Trevor Rosenthal – Fireballer Rosenthal made his debut with the Cardinals on July 18, 2012 in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park.
Rosenthal was brought into the game in the eighth inning to replace starter Adam Wainwright. He pitched to six Brewers beginning with Nyjer Morgan, whom he walked. Rosenthal next gave up a single to Aramis Ramirez. He then struck out Corey Hart. Rickie Weeks lined out to right. Rosenthal walked Martín Maldonado to load the bases. Rosenthal’s final hitter was Carlos Gómez, who struck out swinging.
Rosenthal did not record a save in 2012 and in fact, his first save didn’t come until September 23, 2013.
Stephen Piscotty – Piscotty made his major league debut on July 21, 2015 in an 8-5 win over the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field.
Piscotty was in the starting lineup playing in left field and batting ninth. In his first at bat in the in the second inning, Piscotty struck out swinging.
Piscotty’s next at bat was in the fourth inning. He hit an infield single to third for his first major league hit. The hit was against White Sox starter Carlos Rodón. Piscotty scored on a home run by Matt Holliday.
Piscotty batted again in the fifth and flied out to right. In the seventh, he struck out swinging. Piscotty was removed in the bottom of the ninth for defensive replacement Peter Bourjos.
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