photo: Jordan Walker (Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports)
At home, the St. Louis Cardinals went 3-3 last week. Right fielder Jordan Walker is swinging a hot bat with a 1.678 OPS. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the .470 winning percentage squad from 1938.
Game Recaps
Monday, August 28, 2023 – Cardinals 1, Padres 4
On Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals fell to the Padres by three runs in the opener of a three game home series. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched six innings, gave up one run on eight hits, struck out one and walked three. Due to lack of offensive support, Wainwright still took the loss.
Andre Pallante relieved and surrendered one run in the seventh. Jacob Barnes relinquished two runs in the final two innings.
In the sixth, the Padres took a 1-0 lead and added a second run in the seventh to lead 2-0.
The Cardinals scored their only run in the eighth on a solo home run by Paul Goldschmidt.
Goldschmidt was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jordan Walker was 2-for-3.
On the base paths, Tyler O’Neill stole his fourth base of the season. In the field, Walker had an outfield assist at third base.
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Padres 5 (10 innings)
The Cardinals edged the Padres in a one run win on Tuesday. Starter Zack Thompson pitched four innings, gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits, struck out three and walked four.
Casey Lawrence surrendered two runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief. John King threw 1/3 of a scoreless inning. JoJo Romero tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn the win.
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The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Cardinals tied it in the third as Masyn Winn singled and later scored on a single by Nolan Gorman.
The Padres regained the lead with a two-run top of the fourth. The Cardinals cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half. Willson Contreras reached on an error and later scored on a sac fly by Jordan Walker.
San Diego made it 4-2 in the top of the sixth, but the Cardinals answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Contreras.
The see-saw scoring continued as the Padres plated one in the top of eighth to lead 5-3. In the bottom of the eighth, Contreras hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5.
The game went into extras and the Cardinals walked it off in the bottom of the 10th. Winn began the inning on second and was advanced to third on Richie Palacios’ sac bunt. Tommy Edman plated Winn on a single for the victory.
Contreras was 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-3.
On the base paths, Walker was picked off second base. In the field, Contreras made a throwing error.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 – Cardinals 5, Padres 4
On Wednesday, the Cardinals once again defeated the Padres by a single run. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings, gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked two.
John King surrendered one run in 2/3 of an inning of relief. Drew VerHagen threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Andre Pallante tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the win.
The Padres scored one run in the first inning and two in the second to go up 3-0. The Cardinals tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth on a three-run home run by Jordan Walker.
The Padres took back the lead in the seventh by one run. In the ninth, the Cardinals came back to win 5-4, once again on the heroics of Tommy Edman, who hit a two-run home run to give the Cardinals the walk off win.
Walker was 4-for-4 with three RBI. Richie Palacios was 2-for-3. Edman had two RBI.
On the base paths, Edman stole three bases. In the field, Mikolas picked a runner off first base.
Thursday, August 31, 2023 – Off day
Friday, September 1, 2023 – Cardinals 2, Pirates 4 (10 innings)
The Cardinals took on the Pirates in the final series of the season between the division rivals. St. Louis took a 4-2 loss at Busch Stadium on Friday. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched seven innings, gave up one run on three hits and walked two.
Ryan Helsley, fresh off the injured list, relieved Hudson and threw a scoreless eighth. JoJo Romero surrendered four runs, three earned, in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss. Drew VerHagen got the final out of the 10th.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Cardinals tied the game in the sixth on a solo home run by Willson Contreras.
The score remained tied through regulation. In the top of the 10th, the Pirates put up three runs to lead 4-1. The Cardinals scored one run in the home 10th. Masyn Winn started the inning on second base and advanced to third on a fly out by Lars Nootbaar. Winn came home on a sac fly by Paul Goldschmidt but the rally ended there.
Contreras was 2-for-4 with an RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.
Saturday, September 2, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Pirates 7
The Cardinals again lost to the Pirates in a one run heartbreaker on Saturday. Starter Drew Rom pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out one and walked three.
Jacob Barnes surrendered two runs in 2/3 of an inning of relief. Andre Pallante threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Giovanny Gallegos hurled one scoreless inning. Drew VerHagen relinquished two runs in 1/3 innings and took the loss. Andrew Suarez secured the final out.
The Cardinals took the lead in the second inning on a three-run home run by Tyler O’Neill. The Pirates cut the lead to 3-1 in the fourth.
Pittsburgh tied the game in the top of the fifth. St. Louis recaptured the lead in the home half on a solo home run by Lars Nootbaar.
The Pirates came right back with two runs in the sixth to lead 5-4. The Cardinals took back the lead again with a two-run home run by Jordan Walker to make it 6-5.
With two runs in the ninth, the Pirates took the lead away for the last time to win 7-6.
Walker was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Tommy Edman was 2-for-3. O’Neill had three RBI.
In the field, Contreras had a passed ball.
Sunday, September 3, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Pirates 4
On Sunday, the Cardinals snatched a victory against the Pirates to avoid being swept. Starter Zack Thompson pitched seven innings, gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out six to earn his fourth win.
Andre Pallante relieved Thompson and surrendered one run in the eighth. Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save.
The Pirates went up 1-0 in the top of the second inning. The Cardinals answered with two runs in the home half. Tommy Edman singled. Lars Nootbaar drew a walk. Both later came home on a single by Nolan Gorman. In the third, a solo home run by Jordan Walker increased the lead to 3-1.
Pittsburgh tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth. The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to lead 5-3. Edman walked. Nootbaar reached on a fielder’s choice. Edman and Nootbaar later came home on a single by Alec Burleson.
St. Louis made it 6-3 in the seventh. Walker doubled and was driven in by a single from Richie Palacios. The Pirates made it closer with one run in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-4. The Cardinals bullpen managed to hold the lead.
Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Palacios was 2-for-4. Gorman and Burleson each had two RBI.
On the base paths, Edman stole two bases. Nootbaar swiped his ninth bag.
The Big Picture
The Cardinals ended their week at Busch Stadium with a record of 3-3. They took 2 of 3 from the Padres and won 1 of 3 from the Pirates. The Cardinals have finished with the Pirates for the season and have a season record of 4-9 against them. In past seasons, the Cardinals had dominated the Pirates.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your point of view) there are now only four weeks remaining in the season. The chances of the Cardinals pulling themselves out of the basement are low, but not impossible. They are four games behind the Pirates, so a good run by the Cardinals and some poor luck for the Pirates could get them there.
If there is a good side of all this, it is that this terrible season will get them a higher draft position in next year’s draft than they have had in quite some time. It’s entirely possible they will pick in the top five, most assuredly in the top ten. It will be decided by the lottery.
The issues for this team are the same as they have been all season. Pitching is the number one issue. Number two is a wildly inconsistent offense.
Starters this week with good performances are Dakota Hudson and Adam Wainwright. Zack Thompson performed well in his last start. Only Hudson (1.29) and Wainwright (1.50) had ERAs above four for the week. Drew Rom appears to be slowly improving. Miles Mikolas has been okay but not his usual self. Matthew Liberatore and Steven Matz are on the injured list. It appears Matz is done for the season while Liberatore made his first rehab start for Memphis on Sunday.
On the offense side, Lars Nootbaar has returned from the injured list. Jordan Walker is on a hot streak. Willson Contreras is also hitting well lately. Tommy Edman walked off two games in the Padres series.
The top offensive performers by OPS are Walker (1.678), Contreras (1.183), and Edman (1.029). At the bottom are Masyn Winn (.433), Nolan Gorman (.332), and Nolan Arenado (.247). In the case of Arenado, he has played so poorly of late that it begs the question of why he is even in the lineup, considering he has been plagued by back issues. There are others who can handle third base, and there is no reason for Arenado to continue this way.
The Cardinals go on a road trip this week, first to Atlanta to play the Braves, then to Cincinnati, and ending in Baltimore for the final interleague series of the season for the Cardinals.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | WCGB |
| Milwaukee | 76 | 60 | 0.559 | ||
| Chicago | 73 | 64 | 0.533 | 3.5 | 3 ahead |
| Cincinnati | 71 | 68 | 0.511 | 6.5 | |
| Pittsburgh | 58 | 73 | 0.443 | 13.5 | 7 |
| St. Louis | 56 | 75 | 0.427 | 17.5 | 11 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 8/28 The Cardinals optioned RHP James Naile to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/28 The Cardinals activated RHP Drew VerHagen from the Bereavement List.
- 8/29 The Cardinals sent RHP Jake Woodford on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/29 The Cardinals sent LHP Matthew Liberatore on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/30 The Cardinals sent OF Lars Nootbaar on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/31 The Cardinals sent RHP Wilking Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 9/1 The Cardinals activated RHP Jake Woodford from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 9/1 The Cardinals transferred UT Brendan Donovan from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
- 9/1 The Cardinals activated OF Lars Nootbaar from the 10-day injured list.
- 9/2 The Cardinals claimed OF Michael Siani off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioned him to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 9/2 The Cardinals transferred RHP Guillermo Zuñiga from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Injury Report
- RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) went on the 60-day injured list after May arthroscopic surgery. He is currently on a rehab assignment in Memphis and is expected to return to pitch before the end of the season.
- LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
- LHP Steven Matz (left lat strain) remains on the 15-day injured list. Matz has yet to begin a throwing program and manager Oli Marmol acknowledged that the left hander is unlikely to return to pitch this season. Marmol said even if Matz returns, it would be as a reliever.
- RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) was activated from the 15-day injured list.
- RHP Jake Woodford was activated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Memphis on September 1.
- INF/OF Brendan Donovan (right elbow) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on September 1. He had season ending surgery on August 2 to repair a damaged ligament. Donovan had pain in his throwing arm and had been participating in games as a DH only for weeks. With the Cardinals selling at the deadline, the decision to have the internal brace surgery was made. Donovan is out for the remainder of the season but is expected to be fully ready for Spring Training in 2024.
- CF Dylan Carlson (left oblique strain and left ankle sprain) was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 12, retroactive to August 10. Carlson is dealing with two injuries at the moment, as his earlier ankle injury which occurred in May has never healed completely. Prior reports had him contemplating season ending ankle injury, but since that report Carlson has indicated he hopes to play again this season. Carlson received a pain injection in his ankle and is reportedly engaging in some activity. No update has been given on the oblique injury. No expected return date has been announced.
- OF Lars Nootbaar was activated from the 10-day injured list.
- LHP Matthew Liberatore (lower back tightness) was placed on the 15- day injured list on August 22, retroactive to August 19. Liberatore experienced back discomfort after lifting weights. He began a rehab stint with Memphis on Sunday, September 3.
- RHP Guillermo Zuñiga was placed on the 15-day injured list on August 27, retroactive to August 25 and was moved to the 60-day IL on September 2. The right forearm strain has ended his season. He had felt pain in his right arm during a bullpen session.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals travel to Atlanta on Monday to begin a nine-game road trip. The team plays three with the Braves in Atlanta. Miles Mikolas is scheduled to start the opener on Tuesday, followed by Dakota Hudson on Wednesday and Adam Wainwright on Thursday.
They then follow that series with three weeked games in Cincinnati against the Reds. The road trip ends with three games in Baltimore.
After a travel day on Thursday, September 14, the Cardinals return to St. Louis for seven games. The homestand begins with three against the Phillies and ends with four games versus the Brewers.
The final road trip of the season begins on September 22 with three games with the Padres in San Diego. The team travels to Milwaukee to play the Brewers in the final three games of the trip.
Blast from the Past
The Cardinals are having one of their worst seasons in 50 years. The Cardinals have been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons over the history of major league baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had had periods of underperforming.
This week’s Blast from the Past is the 12th installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.
The current Cardinals are 59-78 with a win percentage of .431. The teams that ended in worst shape than the current Cardinals with at least 154 games played have almost been exhausted in this series (the exceptions are a few teams within a year or two of teams already covered). We continue with looking at below .500 teams that finished with a better record than the current Cardinals now have.
Last week we chose the 1988 Cardinals. This week we go back 50 years to the 1938 Cardinals.
The Cardinals of 1938 were owned by Sam Breadon. The GM was Branch Rickey. The team had two managers that season. Most of the season was led by Frankie Frisch. After Frisch was fired late in the season, Mike Gonzalez took over for the final 17 games.
Frisch was a player-manager, a common phenomenon back in those days. Frisch had managed the Cardinals to their 1934 World Series title. Gonzalez was a former Cardinal player who became a coach under Frisch. By 1938, Frisch was no longer playing.
The primary starters for the 1938 squad were C Mickey Owen, 1B Johnny Mize, 2B Stu Martin, SS Lynn Myers, 3B Don Gutteridge, OF Joe Medwick, OF Enos Slaughter, and OF Terry Moore.
The best offensive player was Mize, who slashed .337/.422/.614 with 26 home runs and 102 RBI. After him was Medwick, whose slash line was .322/.369/.536 with 21 home runs and 122 RBI.
The starting rotation was Bob Weiland, Bill McGee, Lon Warneke, Curt Davis, and Roy Henshaw. McGee had the best ERA (3.22) and the best FIP (3.43) but had a record of only 7-12.
One of the relief pitchers was young Max Lanier, who was recently inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame.
The 1938 team finished the season with a record of 71-80-5 and a win percentage of .470. That put them in sixth place in the National League, 17 ½ games back of the first place Chicago Cubs. They finished ahead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
The team never spent a day in first place. They never had a record above .500.
The longest winning streak was six games. The longest losing streak was eight games.
The 1938 team had 26 comeback wins, 34 blown leads, three walk off wins and four walk off losses. They were shut out by their opponent five times and shut out their opponents 10 times.
The 1938 Cardinals had winning records against two teams, the Dodgers and the Phillies, the two teams that finished worse than the Cardinals.
The team underperformed their Pythagorean Expectation, which was 76-75.
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