Cardinals Minor League Notebook – May 31, 2026

photo: Cesar Prieto (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 4-1 on Saturday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis third baseman César Prieto, walked twice and hit a home run in a two-hit, three-RBI performance. Other standouts include Blaze Jordan, Bligh Madris, Jesús Báez, Jack Gurevitch, Jalin Flores, Michael Dattalo, Jonathan Mejía, Dylan Driessen, Giovanni Vargas, and Royelny Strop.

Results for games played on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Memphis Redbirds 13 at Omaha Storm Chasers 1

The Triple-A Memphis Cardinals clobbered the Storm Chasers in Omaha on Saturday to clinch the series win.

Brycen Mautz made his 10th start for the Redbirds. The left-hander threw four innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts.

Max Rajcic struck out two in a scoreless fifth inning in relief of Mautz and collected his fourth win of the season. Cade Winquest followed with two shutout frames and four strikeouts. Ryan Murphy fired two scoreless innings to finish the game.

Memphis struck first with three runs in the top of the second inning.

Ramon Mendoza hit a lead-off single. Matt Koperniak grounded into a forceout, with Mendoza out at second base and Koperniak safe at first. Koperniak stole second base and Jeremy Rivas walked. With two outs, César Prieto launched his seventh home run of the year, a three-run blast, to put the Redbirds in front 3-0.

César Prieto

The Redbirds scored a run in the third. Blaze Jordan lined a lead-off double. Koperniak hit a two-out single to bring Jordan home for a 4-0 Memphis lead.

Matt Koperniak

Memphis plated two runs in the fourth. Prieto walked and advanced to second base on an infield single from Leo Bernal. Jordan legged out an infield single for his third hit of the game, with Prieto home on the play via a throwing error for a 5-0 lead.

Bligh Madris connected for a single to score Bernal and extend the lead to 6-0.

Omaha entered the run column in the home fifth to move the score to 6-1. The Redbirds entered double-digits with a four-run sixth frame.

Bernal and Jordan began the frame with back-to-back singles. Madris ripped a double to score Bernal and widen the lead to 7-1, with Jordan to third base.

Bligh Madris

Mendoza singled home Jordan to stretch the lead to 8-1, with Madris to third base on the play.

Rivas grounded a single into right fielder to plate Madris for his first Triple-A RBI and a 9-1 lead, with Mendoza to third base.

Jeremy Rivas

Brody Moore brought Mendoza home on a single to put Memphis in double-digits at 10-1.

Brody Moore

The Redbirds added three runs in the ninth as Omaha sent a position player to the mound in the lopsided contest.

Prieto, Joshua Báez, and Bernal loaded the bases with no outs on three consecutive singles. Jordan lined a fourth straight single, his fifth hit of the game, to score Prieto and extend the lead to 11-1.

Blaze Jordan

Madris brought Báez home on a groundout, with Jordan and Bernal to second base and third base, respectively, on the play. Bernal scored on a Mendoza groundout to stretch the lead to 13-1.

The Redbirds were 10-for-22 (.455) with runners in scoring position.

Memphis scored 13 runs on 19 hits. Prieto was 2-for-4, including two walks, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI. Madris was 2-for-6 with a double, a run scored, and three RBI. Mendoza singled twice, scored a run, and drove in two runs. Jordan recorded his first professional five-hit game, going 5-for-6 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Rivas walked twice, singled twice, scored a run, and notched an RBI. Koperniak and Moore each singled and drove in a run. Bernal went 3-for-4 with two walks and three runs scored.

On the bases, Moore stole his second bag of the season. Koperniak tallied his third steal.

On defense, third baseman Prieto committed a fielding error.

Memphis is 34-22 on the season. They are tied with Nashville for first place in the International League West Division. The Redbirds will look to take five of six in Omaha on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: at Omaha. RHP Hunter Dobbins (3-0, 3.43) vs. TBA. 5:05 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals (suspended)

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals’ doubleheader with the Wichita Wind Surge was suspended in the seventh inning of game one on Saturday due to inclement weather.

The game will resume on Sunday in the top of the seventh inning tied at three, with a nine-inning game to follow shortly after the completion of the suspended contest.

Springfield is 21-27 on the season.

Sunday’s games: Game one is slated to resume at 2:15 PM, with game two to follow shortly after the first game’s conclusion. Pitching probables for game two: RHP Brandt Thompson (2-2, 4.82) vs. RHP Eli Jones (2-3, 4.39).

Peoria Chiefs 8 at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3

The High-A Peoria Chiefs bested the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Saturday’s road contest.

Jacob Odle started for Peoria in his High-A debut. The right-hander pitched 3 ⅔ innings and allowed one run on three hits, six walks, and three strikeouts.

Nolan Sparks yielded two runs and fanned four across 2 ⅓ innings in relief of Odle and collected his fourth win of the season. Christian Worley struck out four over two scoreless, hitless, innings. José Davila fanned two in a shutout ninth to finish the game.

The Chiefs did not waste time getting in the run column in the top of the first inning. Jesús Báez belted his 10th home run of the season on the first pitch of the game to put the Chiefs ahead 1-0.

Jesus Baez

On the fourth pitch of the contest, Jack Gurevitch launched a solo shot, his fifth home run with the Chiefs, to double the lead to 2-0.

Jack Gurevitch

The Timber Rattlers trimmed the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the second. Peoria took the run back in the third.

Báez doubled and crossed home plate on a Jalin Flores single for the third Peoria run.

The Chiefs erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth.

Josh Kross drew a lead-off walk and moved all the way to third base on a Won-Bin Cho groundout. With two away, José Suárez grounded a single to plate Cross for a 4-1 Chiefs lead.

Luis Pino walked to put two Chiefs on base. Jose Cordoba followed with a single to score Suárez, with Pino to second base.

Jose Cordoba

Cordoba and Pino advanced to second base and third base, respectively, on a balk. Báez drew a walk to load the bags. Gurevitch took a second consecutive free pass to force Pino home and extend the lead to 6-1. Flores connected for a single to bring Cordoba and Báez home and stretch the lead to 8-1.

Jalin Flores

Wisconsin scored twice in the sixth but the Chiefs held on to secure the series win.

The Chiefs scored eight runs on 11 hits. Flores was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Báez went 2-for-4, including a walk, a double, a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI. Gurevitch was 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run, and two RBI. Suárez and Cordoba both walked, singled, scored a run, and drove in a run.

On the bases, Suárez stole his sixth bag of the year. Flores was caught stealing second base and picked off first base. Cho was picked off third base.

On defense, Cordoba nailed a runner at third base from center field to highlight an errorless night.

Peoria is 24-26 on the season. They will look to take five of six in Wisconsin on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: at Wisconsin. RHP Blake Aita (1-2, 3.62) vs. LHP Wande Torres (3-3, 5.45) 1:10 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 7, Lakeland Flying Tigers 6

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals walked-off the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for the second time in the week to clinch the series victory on Saturday.

Jack Martinez made his 10th career start for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched a career-high 5 ⅓ innings and allowed four runs on two hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.

Jack Martinez

Jovi Gálvez yielded two runs over 1 ⅓ innings in relief of Martinez. Dylan Driessen threw the final 2 ⅓ innings without allowing a run and striking out four to pick up his second win.

Dylan Driessen

Palm Beach scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.

Matthew Miura hit a lead-off single. Ryan Weingartner reached on a fielder’s choice, with Miura safe at second base due to a fielding error. Ryan Mitchell walked to load the bags with no outs. Miura scored on a Michael Dattalo sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Palm Beach lead.

Palm Beach scored twice in the home third. Weingartner walked, stole second base, and moved to third base on a Mitchell groundout. Dattalo lined a single to bring Weingartner home for a 2-0 lead. Brayden Smith and Chase Heath took back-to-back walks to load the bases. Dattalo scored on a Jonathan Mejía groundout to increase the lead to 3-0.

Lakeland scored two runs in the fourth to move within a run. Palm Beach grabbed both runs back in the fifth.

Smith doubled and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Mejía launched his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot, to move the Cardinals ahead 5-2.

Jonathan Mejia

The Flying Tigers plated three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. The Cardinals tied the game in the home seventh.

Dattalo hit his fifth double of the season.

Michael Dattalo

With two outs, Heath lined a single to score Dattalo and tie the game at six.

The game stayed knotted at six heading to the bottom of the ninth, setting the stage for a walk-off.

Mitchell walked. Dattalo legged out an infield single. Dattalo and Mitchell moved to second base and third base, respectively, on a wild pitch. Heath hit a soft groundball for a single to score Mitchell and win the contest.

Chase Heath

The Cardinals scored seven runs on 12 hits. Mejía went 2-for-4, including a home run and three RBI. Dattalo was 3-for-4, including a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. Heath singled twice and drove in two runs. Smith walked, doubled, and scored a run. Miura was 3-for-5 with a run scored.

On the bases, Weingartner swiped his 15th bag in exciting fashion.

Facundo Velásquez was caught stealing second base.

On defense, center fielder Miura made a fielding error.

Palm Beach is 28-22 on the season. They will look to take five of six from Lakeland on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: vs. Lakeland. TBA vs. RHP Charlie Christensen (1-0, 1.89) 11:30 AM CT.

FCL Cardinals 2, FCL Nationals 9 (Game one, seven innings)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals dropped the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader with the FCL Nationals. This was the completion of Friday’s suspended game and resumed in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Andrew Bolívar made his third start in his fourth appearance for the Cardinals. The right-hander threw three innings and allowed six runs, five earned, on three hits, six walks, and three strikeouts. Bolívar took the loss.

Brailyn Paulino surrendered three runs in an inning in relief of Bolívar. Lefty Owen Rice struck out three across two scoreless frames. Outfielder Andru Arthur threw a scoreless seventh inning on the mound.

The Nationals scored a run in the top of the first and four runs apiece in the second and fourth frames to take a 9-0 lead. Once the game resumed in the bottom of the fourth, the Cardinals entered the run column.

Yaxson Lucena took a lead-off walk. Juan Rujano doubled home Lucena to put the Cardinals on the board at 9-1.

Juan Rujano

The Cardinals scored a run in the sixth. Lucena took his second walk of the game. Royelny Strop doubled, with Strop to third base and Lucena home on the play via a fielding error to move the score to 9-2.

The Cardinals were unable to rally further.

The FCL Cardinals scored two runs on four hits. Rujano doubled and recorded the team’s lone RBI. Strop walked and hit a double. Sebastian Dos Santos recorded a double. Lucena walked twice and scored two runs.

The Cardinals did not steal a base.

On defense, pitcher Bolívar made a throwing error.

FCL Cardinals 2 at FCL Nationals 0 (Game two, seven innings)

The FCL Cardinals blanked the Nationals in game two of Saturday’s home-away twin bill.

Earle Zulueta started his second game in his fourth appearance for the Cardinals. The right-hander fired four scoreless innings on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Earle Zulueta

Giovanni Vargas threw three dominant no-hit innings with six strikeouts in relief of Zulueta to finish the game and earn his second win of the season.

Giovanni Vargas

The Cardinals broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning.

Anyelo Encarnación began the inning with a double. After back-to-back strikeouts, Yaxson Lucena hit his first triple to score Encarnación and put the Cardinals in front 1-0.

Yaxson Lucena

Royelny Strop followed with a double to plate Lucena and extend the lead to 2-0.

Royelny Strop

The Cardinals held the Nationals to just two hits in the win.

The FCL Cardinals scored two runs on seven hits. Lucena tripled, scored a run, and drove in a run. Strop doubled and notched an RBI. Encarnación doubled and scored a run in the contest as he works to rejoin the Peoria Chiefs.

On the basepaths, Miguel Hernández was caught stealing second base.

On defense, shortstop Encarnación committed a fielding error and a throwing error. Catcher Rujano made a throwing error. The Cardinals turned three double plays in the game.

The FCL Cardinals are 6-14 on the season. They are off Sunday and Monday, as they prepare for a road contest with the FCL Marlins on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game: at FCL Marlins. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.

Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Florida Complex League Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 4

Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Contact Michael Goff at mgoff@mail.bradley.edu.

© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.