photo: Pedro Pages (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
A 1-5 week means the division is slipping away for the St. Louis Cardinals as they also lose ground in the wild card race. Catcher Pedro Pages has been one of the few bright spots for the dismal offense. Our history feature highlights Cardinals traded away who debuted during this week in the past.
Game recaps
Monday, August 12, 2024 – Cardinals 1 at Reds 6
The St. Louis Cardinals were defeated by the Reds by a 6-1 score on Monday at Great American Ballpark. Former Red Sonny Gray started for St. Louis. The right hander pitched five innings, gave up six runs on five hits, fanned nine and walked two. Gray took the loss, his seventh of the season.
Kyle Leahy relieved Gray and threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Shawn Armstrong tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Cardinals scored their only run in the top of the third inning. Willson Contreras singled. Tommy Pham took a free pass. Nolan Arenado drove in Contreras on a single.
The Reds answered in the home third with three runs and added three more runs in the fifth for the final score of 6-1.
The Cardinals offense scored one run on five hits. Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-4.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 – Cardinals 1 at Reds 4
For the second straight game, the Cardinals were held to only one run by the Reds and lost. The Cardinals fell 4-1 in Cincinnati.
Erick Fedde took the mound for the Cardinals. He pitched six innings and gave up four runs on six hits. The right-hander struck out two and walked two. Fedde took the loss.
Matthew Liberatore followed Fedde and threw a scoreless seventh. Shawn Armstrong tossed a scoreless eighth.
The Reds took the lead with single runs in the first and second innings. In the sixth, Cincinnati added two more runs for a 4-0 lead.
The Cardinals got on the board with their only run in the seventh on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado.
The meager St. Louis offense scattered four hits for one run. Willson Contreras and Victor Scott II added doubles to the Arenado home run for three extra base hits. Lars Nootbaar contributed a single.
The offense was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
On defense, Fedde picked a runner off first base.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – Cardinals 2 at Reds 9
The Cardinals were swept by the Reds with third game loss on Wednesday, scoring just four runs in 27 innings.
Kyle Gibson was on the bump. The right hander pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs, six earned, on seven hits. He fanned six and walked two to take his fifth loss of the season.
John King followed Gibson and threw one scoreless inning in relief. Kyle Leahy surrendered one run in 2/3 innings. Matthew Liberatore allowed one run in the final 1 2/3 innings.
The Reds took a 4-0 lead in the third inning. They padded their lead with three additional runs in the fifth.
The Cardinals scored two runs in the sixth to shrink the lead to 7-2. Masyn Winn doubled and scored on a single by Alec Burleson. Nolan Arenado drove in Burleson on a single.
Cincinnati piled on with one run in each of the seventh and eighth innings.
The Cardinals offense scored two runs on 10 hits. Winn was 2-for-5. Willson Contreras was 2-for-4. Brendan Donovan was 2-for-4.
The Cardinals made two errors. Donovan made a throwing error and Tommy Pham had a fielding miscue.
Thursday, August 15, 2022 – Off day
Friday, August 16, 2024 – Cardinals 6, Dodgers 7
The Cardinals lost their fourth game in a row, opening the Dodgers series with a Friday defeat. This game was close and featured more offense from St. Louis than the team produced over three games in Cincinnati.
Miles Mikolas took the mound and pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up five runs on seven hits and fanned seven. Mikolas continued the issues with the long ball that has plagued the rotation recently, with two home runs allowed.
Andrew Kittredge relieved Mikolas and also gave up a home run, a three-run shot. One of the baserunners belonged to Mikolas. Kittredge allowed two runs without recording an out and was replaced Matthew Liberatore. Liberatore threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Fernandez followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. JoJo Romero tossed the final 2/3 scoreless innings.
Los Angeles put up two runs in the top of the second inning. The Cardinals answered with two runs in the home half to tie the game. Nolan Arenado walked and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run home run to right center field.
St. Louis took a 3-2 lead in the third on a solo home run by Masyn Winn. They added a run in the fifth on a solo shot by Pedro Pagés to lead 4-2. The 462-foot shot was the longest at Busch Stadium this season.
The Dodgers responded with a five-run top of the sixth to recapture the lead 7-4. In the home sixth, the Cards cut the deficit to 7-6. Tommy Pham and Goldschmidt walked. Brendan Donovan plated Pham on a single. Goldschmidt came home on a single by Pagés.
The Cardinals scored six runs on six hits. Pagés was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Donovan was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Goldschmidt had two RBI.
Winn was caught stealing for the fifth time this season. Jordan Walker made a throwing error.
Saturday, August 17, 2024 – Cardinals 5, Dodgers 2
The Cardinals broke their four-game losing streak with a win over the Dodgers on Saturday. Andre Pallante took the mound to start for St. Louis. The right-hander pitched seven innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out five and walked two to earn his fifth win of the season.
JoJo Romero relieved Pallante and threw a scoreless eighth. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 38th save.
Los Angeles plated a run in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals quickly tied it in the home first. Alec Burleson singled, stole second base and took third base on a wild pitch. Willson Contreras drove in Burleson on a single.
The Cardinals took the lead 3-1 in the third inning on a two-run home run by Burleson. In the top of the fifth, the Dodgers cut the lead to 3-2.
The Cardinals added a run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run by Masyn Winn. In the eighth a solo shot by Nolan Arenado added an insurance run for a 5-2 lead.
Burleson was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Winn was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Contreras was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Burleson stole his eighth base of the season.
Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Cardinals 1, Dodgers 2
The Cardinals fell to future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on Sunday, and thus dropped the home series. Sonny Gray was on the bump for St. Louis. The right-hander pitched five innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, fanned six and walked three. Gray took the loss, his eighth.
Shawn Armstrong relieved Gray and threw one scoreless inning. Matthew Liberatore hurled a scoreless seventh. Ryan Fernandez and John King each tossed a scoreless inning.
The game was scoreless until the fifth, when the Dodgers put up two runs on Gray.
The Cardinals were held scoreless until the eighth, when Lars Nootbaar thumped a solo home run to give the Cardinals their only run.
The offense scattered six hits. The Nootbaar long ball was the only extra base hit of the game. The offense was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base.
Brendan Donovan was caught stealing.
The Big Picture
The Cardinals had a terrible week, going 1-5. They were swept by the Reds and lost 2 of 3 to the Dodgers. They barely remain in second place in the NL Central, 11 games back of the Brewers and five games out of the third and final wild card spot.
At this point, there isn’t anything going right for this team. The offense and the pitching have fallen off considerably. The offense didn’t have far to fall as they have been underwhelming all season. Their run differential is a whopping -62, worse even than the last place Pirates at -31.
The offense was particularly bad in the Reds series, as they scored a minuscule four runs over three games. They scored more often in the Dodgers series, but not enough to win more than one game.
The top offensive performers over the last seven days by OPS is a list of two players, Pedro Pagés (1.222), and Lars Nootbaar (1.122). From there, there is a big drop to the next on the list, Brendan Donovan (.791).
At the bottom, the list is much longer. They include Tommy Pham (.357 OPS), Victor Scott (.333), Nolan Gorman (.286), and Jordan Walker (.258).
This is consistent with how the St. Louis Cardinals have performed for the entire season up to now. Brief glimpses of improvement followed by drops into the abyss. It is a conundrum without an obvious solution.
The pitching situation is slightly better, but not by much. We saw Andre Pallante pitch a gem against the Dodgers. He was the only starter with an ERA under 4.00 for the week. Pallante (2.57) was the bright spot in the week.
As for the other starters, their outings for the week began with Erick Fedde (6.00) and went downhill from there. Sonny Gray (7.20), Miles Mikolas (7.94) and Kyle Gibson (11.57) all disappointed.
The bullpen is the only part of the team that did not disappoint, though Andrew Kittredge couldn’t even record an out in his one appearance and has an infinitely high ERA for the week.
Very little of the season remains, so the prospects for a turnaround are slim (but not impossible, see: 2011 Cardinals).
The Cardinals play the Brewers this week at Busch Stadium so there is an opportunity for movement. The Brewers have been playing well, so don’t hold your breath. Even if St. Louis could win two of three, they would still be 10 games out.
Following the Milwaukee series, the team goes to Minnesota to play the Twins.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | WCGB |
| Milwaukee | 72 | 52 | 0.581 | ||
| St. Louis | 61 | 63 | 0.492 | 11 | 5 |
| Chicago | 61 | 64 | 0.488 | 11.5 | 5.5 |
| Cincinnati | 60 | 64 | 0.484 | 12 | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 58 | 65 | 0.472 | 13.5 | 7.5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 8/12 The Cardinals recalled RF Jordan Walker from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/12 The Cardinals placed DH Matt Carpenter on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 9. Lower back strain.
Injury Report
- 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.
- LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on June 28. Matz is currently on a rehab assignment with the Memphis Redbirds and may be activated after one more start. He role upon returning is unknown.
- CF Michael Siani (strained right oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 4. Siani was cleared to swing a bat on August 16. The center fielder’s expected return is late August.
- RHP Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 31. Lynn is set to pitch live batting practice on August 20 at Busch Stadium. Absent any issues, Lynn could return to the active roster shortly thereafter.
- DH Matt Carpenter was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 9. Lower back strain. Carpenter is expected to return when the 10 days are up.
Looking Ahead
Following the end of the Dodgers series on Sunday, the division leading Brewers come to St. Louis for a three-game series beginning Tuesday, August 20.
The Cards then travel to Minnesota for a weekend set with the Twins. The Cardinals return to St. Louis for four with Mike Shildt’s San Diego Padres.
The team leaves again for New York for a three-game series against the Yankees at the end of August. The final series of the road trip is with the Brewers again, this time in Milwaukee.
After an off day on Thursday, September 5, the Cardinals will face the Mariners in a weekend series at Busch Stadium. Following a Monday off day, the homestand ends with three games with the Reds.
Blast from the Past
This week’s Blast from the Past takes a detour from the past two weeks and returns to the series that showcases the debuts of former Cardinals.
This week’s Debut Series looks at recent former Cardinals who currently play for other teams. The theme of this installment is “The Ones That Got Away”.
The following is a list of former Cardinals who made their major league debut with St. Louis during the period August 12 through August 18. These four players, one pitcher and three position players, are playing for other teams with various degrees of success. All four were traded away by the Cardinals.
This list states the name of the player, the date they debuted, and how they performed in their debut.
Patrick Wisdom – Patrick Wisdom made his major league debut for the Cardinals on August 12, 2018, in an 8-2 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Wisdom was in the starting lineup and batting ninth. Because the game was played in an American League park, the pitchers did not hit. he played first base in his debut.
Wisdom went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
In the top of the third inning, Wisdom hit an infield single off Royals starter Jakob Junis. Wisdom eventually scored on a single by José Martinez.
In the fifth inning, Wisdom struck out swinging. In the seventh, he hit an RBI line drive single to center that scored Jedd Gyorko. In his final AB in the eighth, he grounded out to the shortstop.
In December 2018, the Cardinals traded Wisdom to the Texas Rangers. He eventually made his way to the Chicago Cubs. He played semi-regularly in his first two seasons in Chicago, but in his most recent two years, he has been a reserve.
Luke Weaver – Weaver made his debut on August 3, 2016, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals beat the Cubs 8-4.
Weaver was the starting pitcher, called up to replace Michael Wacha, who was injured. Weaver pitched four innings. He gave up two runs on four hits, with three strikeouts and three walks.
In his first inning, Weaver struck out the first two hitters. The third batter grounded out. In his second inning, he gave up a double and a two-run home run to Addison Russell. Following that he pitched to six more hitters, issued two walks and gave up a single.
In the third inning, no runs were scored. Weaver gave up a single, then induced a double play. The next batter walked and the final batter grounded out to second base.
In his final inning, he retired all three hitters, on two ground outs and a strikeout.
Weaver pitched for St. Louis for two more seasons then was traded in a multi-player deal during the 2018 offseason with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Paul Goldschmidt. Weaver bounced from the Diamondbacks to the Royals, and then to the Cincinnati Reds. Weaver currently is a reliever for the New York Yankees.
Randy Arozarena – Arozarena made his debut on August 14, 2019, in a 6-0 win over the Kanas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Arozarena was in the starting lineup in center field and hitting ninth. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
His first at bat was in the third inning. He struck out swinging. In the sixth inning, Arozarena grounded out to third base. In the seventh, he hit an RBI single to left field that scored Matt Carpenter. In his final plate appearance, he singled to right but was left stranded.
Arozarena played in 19 games for St. Louis in 2019. In January 2020, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Matthew Liberatore. Arozarena had a successful four seasons with the Rays (much to the consternation of Cardinals fans). He was traded last month to the Seattle Mariners.
Dylan Carlson – Carlson has only been a former Cardinal since July 30. He made his debut for St. Louis on August 15, 2020, in a game with the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Cardinals won the game 5-1. This was the first game of a doubleheader and was seven innings in length.
Carlson was in the starting lineup playing in left field and hitting sixth. He went 0-for-3.
In the first inning, Carlson struck out swinging. In his second at-bat in the third inning, he grounded out to first base. In the fifth, Carlson flied out to center. This was his last at-bat.
Carlson played in the second game of the doubleheader, also batting sixth but playing in right field. He went 1-for-3.
In the second inning, Carlson struck out swinging. In the fourth, he drew a walk but was left stranded. Carlson got his first major league hit, a double to right, in the fifth inning off reliever Jimmy Cordero. Carlson was left stranded. Carlson lined out to center in the seventh.
The Cardinals traded Carlson on July 30, 2024, to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Shawn Armstrong. Carlson has appeared in 13 games with the Rays and is hitting .270 with three home runs.
As is sometimes the case with a player coming to a new team, Carlson has played well. Whether that will continue to be the case remains to be seen. Such a small sample size is not predictive of future success.
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