St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook – May 15-21

photo: Nolan Gorman (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)

At home, the St. Louis Cardinals went 5-2 to pick up 2 1/2 more games in the standings. Nolan Gorman has been joined by Tommy Edman leading the offense. Our history feature highlights assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen.



Game Recaps

Monday, May 15, 2023 – Cardinals 18, Brewers 1

The St. Louis Cardinals annihilated the Brewers with a 17-run win in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium. Starter Jack Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out 10 and walked two to earn his third win of the season.

Jack Flaherty

James Naile relieved Flaherty and surrendered one run in the final two innings.

The run-scoring began in the first inning on a three-run home run by Nolan Arenado. St. Louis made it 4-0 in the second. Tommy Edman singled and scored on a double by Paul Goldschmidt.

The Cardinals put up four runs in the sixth. The inning began with Paul DeJong hit by a pitch. Tommy Edman singled and Lars Nootbaar singled. Paul Goldschmidt singled and DeJong scored. Nolan Gorman plated Edman and Nootbaar on a double. Goldschmidt scored on a sac fly by Nolan Arenado.

The Brewers finally got on the board with one run in the top of the eighth. St. Louis answered with 10 runs in the home half of the eighth.

Edman started the eighth with a solo home run. Nootbaar singled and Goldschmidt walked. Andrew Knizner pinch ran for Goldschmidt. Gorman hit a three-run home run. Brendan Donovan walked and DeJong singled. Alec Burleson singled to score Donovan. DeJong came in on a single by Edman. Nootbaar walked. Knizner hit a grand slam. The Cardinals led 18-1.

Gorman was 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored. Arenado was 2-for-3 with four RBI. Edman was 4-for-5 with two RBI and four runs scored. Knizner had four RBI.

Tuesday May 16, 2023 – Cardinals 2, Brewers 3

The Cardinals followed their blowout of the day before with an anemic loss to the Brewers in the second game of the series. Starter Jordan Montgomery pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up three runs on eight hits, struck out seven and walked one. Montgomery took the loss.

Jordan Hicks threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Andre Pallante hurled a scoreless eighth. Drew VerHagen tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Brewers took 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Cardinals tied it in the second on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado.

St. Louis took the 2-1 lead in the fourth. Tommy Edman doubled and scored on a single by Brendan Donovan.

Milwaukee responded with one run in the fifth to tie and one run in the sixth to go up 3-2. That ended the evening’s scoring.

Edman was 3-for-4 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits. The offense was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.

On the base paths, Willson Contreras stole his third base of the season. Edman swiped two bags.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – Cardinals 3, Brewers 0

The Cardinals blanked the Brewers to take the series on Wednesday. In his 2023 debut, starter Matthew Liberatore pitched five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out six and walked three to earn the win.

Matthew Liberatore

Andre Pallante relieved Liberatore and threw a scoreless sixth. Giovanny Gallegos hurled 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save.

The Cardinals scored their first run in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk.  Nolan Gorman singled. Nolan Arenado plated Goldschmidt on a single.

St. Louis increased the lead to 3-0 in the sixth on a two-run home run by Paul DeJong.

Brendan Donovan went 2-for-4. DeJong had two RBI.

On the base paths, Edman stole his sixth base of the season.

Thursday May 18, 2023 – Cardinals 16, Dodgers 8

The Cardinals won a wild opener of a four-game weekend set with the Dodgers at Busch Stadium. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up five runs, two earned, on five hits, struck out one and walked three. Wainwright received his first win of the season.

Genesis Cabrera relieved and surrendered three runs before getting the final out of the sixth. Drew VerHagen, Jordan Hicks and Chris Statton threw a scoreless inning each to close out the win.

The Dodgers scored first, putting up two runs in the first inning. The Cardinals responded in the third with six runs to take the lead.

The home half of the sixth began with a single from Oscar Mercado, who then stole second base. Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk. Willson Contreras then blasted a three-run home run. Juan Yepez thumped a solo home run. Nolan Gorman and Paul DeJong followed with solo home runs.

Willson Contreras

In the fourth, Mercado doubled, then advanced to third on a fly out by Lars Nootbaar. Paul Goldschmidt walked. Goldschmidt stole second, Mercado stole home. Nolan Arenado hit a two-run long ball and St. Louis led 9-2.

The Dodgers came roaring back with a five run sixth inning to make it 9-7. Los Angeles added another run in the seventh to make it a one run game.

The Cardinals took the Dodgers’ six runs and raised them by seven runs in the eighth. Brendan Donovan walked. Mercado singled. Lars Nootbaar singled and Donovan scored. Goldschmidt was intentionally walked. Mercado scored on a wild pitch. Contreras hit a three-run home run, his second of the night. Alec Burleson walked, and Nolan Gorman followed with a two-run home run. The Cardinals were up 16-8.

Contreras hit two home runs with six RBI. Gorman was 3-for-5 including two home runs with three RBI. Mercado was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Arenado drove in two.

On the base paths, Mercado stole two bases. Goldschmidt stole his sixth base of the season. In the field, Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong each made a fielding error.

Friday, May 19, 2023 – Cardinals 0, Dodgers 5

In a repeat of the second game of the Brewers series, the Cardinals offense followed a two-digit run-scoring game with an anemic showing the next day. The Cardinals were blanked by the Dodgers on Friday.

Starter Steven Matz pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up one unearned run on six hits, struck out six and walked two. Matz took the loss, his fifth.

Andre Pallante relieved Matz and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Jordan Hicks hurled a scoreless seventh. Chris Stratton surrendered four runs in the final two innings.

The game was scoreless for the first four innings. The Dodgers scored one run in the fifth to take the lead. In the eighth, Los Angeles added four more runs.

The Cardinals managed only two hits in the game, singles by Nolan Gorman and Nolan Arenado. The offense was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

On the base paths, Goldschmidt stole his seventh base of the season. In the field, Arenado made a throwing error.

Saturday, May 20 – Cardinals 6, Dodgers 5

The Cardinals prevailed over the Dodgers by the skin of their teeth in a one-run game on Saturday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched seven innings, gave up three runs on six hits and struck out two.

Ryan Helsley relieved Mikolas and threw a scoreless eighth but gave up two runs in the ninth. Nevertheless, Helsley received the win. Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save.

The Cardinals scored one run in the first to take the early lead. Paul Goldschmidt singled. Nolan Gorman walked. Willson Contreras plated Goldschmidt on a single.

St. Louis added to the lead with two runs in the second. Paul DeJong was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Alec Burleson doubled, and DeJong scored. Burleson moved to third on Tommy Edman’s ground out and scored on a sac fly by Lars Nootbaar.

The Dodgers tied the game in the sixth. The Cardinals came back in the eighth after Tommy Edman doubled and the Dodgers intentionally walked Goldschmidt to pitch to Gorman. Gorman responded with a three-run home run to give the Cardinals a 6-3 lead.

Nolan Gorman

The Cardinals tried to give the lead back in the ninth after Helsley lost command of his fastball and gave up two runs before recording an out. Gallegos bailed Helsley out and finished the inning without further damage.

Gorman was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Arenado was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Contreras stole his fourth base of the season and DeJong stole his second base. Arenado was caught stealing for the second time.

Sunday, May 21, 2023 – Cardinals 10, Dodgers 5

The Cardinals took the series three games to one with a 10-5 win over the Dodgers on Sunday. Starter Jack Flaherty pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up three runs on four hits, struck out five and walked four.

Drew VerHagen relieved Flaherty and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his third win. Matthew Liberatore surrendered two runs in the eighth. Genesis Cabrera tossed a scoreless ninth.

St. Louis took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Nolan Arenado doubled. Tommy Edman doubled to score Arenado. Paul DeJong reached on a fielder’s choice and Edman was out at third. Brendan Donovan walked. Oscar Mercado plated DeJong and Donovan on a double.

Oscar Mercado

The Dodgers answered in the third to cut the lead to 3-1.  The Cardinals added a run in the fourth. DeJong walked. Donovan singled. Mercado singled and DeJong scored.

The Dodgers scored two in the top of the fifth to make it 4-3.  The Cardinals widened the lead to 7-3 in the home half of the fifth.

Arenado singled and pinch-hitter Alec Burleson walked. Edman singled. DeJong singled to score Arenado. Brendan Donovan grounded into a force out and Burleson was thrown out at home. Mercado singled to plate Edman and DeJong.

St. Louis made it 10-3 in the seventh on a three-run long ball by DeJong.

The Dodgers rallied for two more runs in the eighth to bring the final score to 10-5.

Mercado was 3-for-4 with five RBI. DeJong was 2-for-3 with four RBI and four runs scored. Edman was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Arenado was 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

On the base paths, Mercado was caught stealing for the first time.

The Big Picture

The Cardinals had their second good week in a row, going 5-2 for the week. They won both series at home, taking 2-of-3 from the Brewers and 3-of-4 from the Dodgers. The Cardinals are now in third place in the Division, five games back of first place, after being 10 games back several weeks ago.

The offense has improved over the last several weeks. They now have a positive run differential after being in the negative for a while.

Tommy Edman

The top offensive performers by OPS over the last seven days are Nolan Gorman (1.519), Tommy Edman (1.428), Oscar Mercado (1.272), Nolan Arenado (1.211), Paul DeJong (.966), and Andrew Knizner (.834).  At the bottom are Lars Nootbaar (.319) and Brendan Donovan (.436).

Nolan Arenado

The starting pitching has gotten a little better. Jack Flaherty pitched well against the Brewers, but not as well against the Dodgers.  Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz and Matthew Liberatore all have ERAs under 4.00 for the week. Jordan Montgomery is struggling.

In the bullpen, Ryan Helsley, Genesis Cabrera and Chris Stratton had bad weeks. The remainder of the bullpen was fine.

The defense has had a few hiccups here and there. The outfield continues to be the weak link defensively. After seeing Juan Yepez struggle in the outfield, the Cardinals called up Oscar Mercado to stabilize the outfield. With Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill still on the injured list, the outfield in the last few games haa been Nootbaar, Mercado and either Brendan Donovan or Tommy Edman.

In the infield, Paul Goldschmidt has made a few uncharacteristic errors. That should be random.. The rest of the infield is fine.

The Cardinals leave for a road trip to Ohio. They will play four games in Cincinnati and three in Cleveland. The Reds have always played well against the Cardinals and will be tough. Cleveland will also be a challenge because the Cardinals have historically not played well in interleague series.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Milwaukee 25 21 0.543
Pittsburgh 24 22 0.522 1
St. Louis 21 27 0.438 5
Chicago 20 26 0.435 5
Cincinnati 19 27 0.413 6

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade and acquisition rumors.

Transactions

  • 5/17 The Cardinals recalled LHP Matthew Liberatore from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 5/17 The Cardinals optioned RHP James Naile to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 5/17 The Cardinals selected the contract of CF Oscar Mercado from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 5/17 The Cardinals transferred LHP Packy Naughton from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Left forearm strain.
  • 5/17 The Cardinals placed CF Dylan Carlson to the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 15. Left ankle sprain.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Rodriguez is out for the season with shoulder surgery.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton has begun a throwing program and will go on a rehab assignment when he is deemed ready.
  • OF Tyler O’Neill (low back strain). O’Neill was scheduled to make his first rehab assignment on Thursday, May 25, but that rehab assignment has been put on hold. O’Neill continues to experience back pain and is scheduled to see the team doctor. No new timetable for a rehab assignment has been set.
  • RHP Jake Woodford (right shoulder inflammation). Woodford experienced pain while pitching in relief on May 4.
  • CF Dylan Carlson was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 15 with a left ankle strain. Carlson could return by May 25.

Looking Ahead

A road trip begins on Monday May 22 with four games in Cincinnati with the Reds. Jordan Montgomery will get the start in the first game of the series. No starters have been named for the remaining games. It was recently announced that the Cardinals will go with a six-man rotation for the time being due to a long string of games with no off days.

The road trip ends with three games in Cleveland. The month concludes with a two-game set with the Royals at Busch Stadium.

June begins with a six-game road trip. Beginning June 2, the Cardinals play a weekend series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The team travels to Texas for three with the Rangers.

After an off day on Thursday, June 8, the Cardinals begin a six-game homestand with the Reds and the Giants.

Blast from the Past

This week’s Blast from the Past continues a series showcasing the major league coaching staff of the Cardinals. Each week we present a brief biography of one member of the coaching staff as well as a summary of the member’s playing career if applicable.

Brandon Allen (St. Louis Cardinals)

This 10th installment profiles Assistant Hitting Coach Brandon Allen.  The duties of the Assistant Hitting Coach are to assist the Hitting Coach with matters relating to hitting, including batting mechanics, plate discipline, and preparation.

Brandon Durell Allen was born on February 12, 1986, in Conroe, Texas. Allen attended Montgomery High School in Montgomery Texas.

Allen was drafted out of high school in 2004 by the Chicago White Sox. After five seasons in the White Sox minor league system, Allen was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Tony Pena.

Allen made his major league debut with the Diamondbacks on August 22, 2009. Allen played in 65 games in Arizona over three seasons and was then traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 31, 2011. On April 12, 2012, the Tampa Bay Rays selected Allen off waivers.

The Rays released Allen on July 27, 2012. Over the next four seasons, Allen was signed to minor league deals by the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds. Allen also played for the Fukouka SoftBank Hawks of the NPB.

The Cardinals hired Allen as the Hitting Coach for the Johnson City Cardinals in 2017. He was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals for the 2018 season. He became the Hitting Coach for the Springfield Cardinals in 2019 and then was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds in the same position for the 2020 season, before the schedule was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Allen resumed the position in Memphis for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

During his seasons with the Redbirds, Allen worked with current major leaguers Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson. While Allen was the Memphis hitting coach, the Redbirds made stark improvements from previous seasons in team AVG, HRs, SLG, and OPS.

The Cardinals named Allen to the position of Assistant Hitting Coach on November 6, 2022. Allen shares duties as Assistant Hitting Coach with third hitting coach Daniel Nicolaisen.


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