photo: Wrigley Field (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals suffered through a 1-4 week that included a disappointing sweep by the Chicago Cubs. The injury impact continues with Adam Wainwright seemingly the only dependable starter. In our history feature, the MLB debuts of St. Louis’ starting pitchers are revisited.
Game Recaps
Monday, June 7 – Off day
Tuesday, June 8 – Cardinals 1, Indians 10
The St. Louis Cardinals welcomed the Cleveland Indians in two-game interleague series beginning on Tuesday. The opener was a blowout, as starter Carlos Martinez couldn’t keep the Indians bats quiet. The right hander lasted longer than he did in his previous start, also a drubbing at the hands of the Dodgers.
Martinez yielded two runs in the first inning, and an additional three in the third. Martinez was taken out after four innings, five runs on seven hits, seven strikeouts and one walk. A bullpen succession of Andrew Miller, Jake Woodford, Daniel Ponce de Leon, and Seth Elledge managed to limit the additional runs scored by Cleveland at one. Junior Fernandez, however, caught the Martinez malady in the ninth and surrendered four runs. Martinez suffered his sixth loss of the season.
Cleveland pitching kept the Cardinals scoring down to one run. That occurred in the fourth as Tyler O’Neill walked and Matt Carpenter was hit by a pitch. A single by Edmundo Sosa scored O’Neill. That was all the offense, as the Cardinals scattered only six hits in the pedestrian effort. Carpenter and Sosa each had two hits.
This loss was the Cardinals sixth straight, following a series loss to the Dodgers and a series sweep by the Reds.
Wednesday, June 9 – Cardinals 8, Indians 2
The Redbirds managed to salvage this brief series by winning the second of two games. This was only the second win for the Cardinals in the last 10 games.
Adam Wainwright stopped the bleeding temporarily with a quality start of seven innings, two runs allowed on three hits, six punch outs, and mercifully no walks. Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
St. Louis’ offense rebounded with eight runs on 10 hits, starting with four runs in the first inning. The first one came on a bases loaded walk by Yadier Molina following a Tommy Edman double, and Nolan Arenado walk, and a Tyler O’Neill single. Matt Carpenter followed with a double that scored Arenado, O’Neill and Molina.
O’Neill blasted a two-run home to left center for two more runs in the third. The last two Cardinals scores occurred in the seventh on solo home runs by Paul Goldschmidt and O’Neill again. O’Neill was 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Edman was 2-for-5 and Carpenter had three RBI.
Goldschmidt stole his fourth base of the season.
Thursday, June 10 – Off day
Friday, June 11 – Cardinals 5 at Cubs 8
The Cardinals’ one game winning streak came to an end on Friday as the rival Cubs defeated the Redbirds 8-5 at a full capacity Wrigley Field. A sunny afternoon turned dark in the fifth inning.
The Cardinals scored a run in the second inning and another run in the third to take a 2-0 lead over their bitter foes. With Tyler O’Neill and Yadier Molina on base in the second, Matt Carpenter singled to right and O’Neill scored but Molina was thrown out at third base. In the third inning, starting pitcher Johan Oviedo who started the mini rally by leading off the inning with a walk. After two outs were tallied, Paul Goldschmidt singled, and Nolan Arenado followed with a single that plated Oviedo.
The Cubs got one run back in the fourth but then in the fifth the Cardinals put three runs on the board in response. Oviedo once again led off with walk. Tommy Edman singled and Dylan Carlson doubled to score Oviedo. Arenado then singled to plate Edman and Carlson.
The bottom of the fifth began with the Cardinals leading 5-1. The Cubs answered with three runs in the fifth, one run in the sixth, two runs in the seventh, and one in the eighth. Oviedo surrendered the three runs in the fifth while the other four came via Daniel Ponce de Leon, Genesis Cabrera and Jake Woodford. Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley did not yield runs.
Oviedo pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on five hits, struck out five and walked one. He also walked twice on eight pitches. In a team effort, Ponce de Leon was tagged with the blown save and Genesis Cabrera took the loss.
Molina had a less than stellar day behind the plate, contributing a throwing error on a pickoff and a passed ball to the loss.
Saturday, June 12 – Cardinals 2 at Cubs 7
The second game of the series was no better than the first as the Cardinals once again allowed the Cubs to run (and walk) all over them.
John Gant had a bad night to put it mildly. The right hander only lasted 1 2/3 innings while allowing five runs on one hit, and more to the point, five walks (all in one inning). In the first inning, Gant retired all three batters. In the second though, not so much. Anthony Rizzo lined out, but what followed was walk, home run, walk, walk, walk, (whoa, a flyout), walk. Gant received the hook then. Jake Woodford then gave up a single, hit Rizzo and finally got the third out on a pop up. That inning produced five runs for the Cubs.
Woodford returned to give up a home run in the third, and Seth Elledge did the same in the fourth. The Cubs stopped scoring after that as Andrew Miller, Junior Fernandez, Alex Reyes and Angel Rondon held the Cubs at bay.
The Cardinals concluded their scoring in the third inning after solo home runs by Nolan Arenado in the second and Paul DeJong in the third. That was it. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the ninth inning off Cubs reliever Trevor Megill, but Craig Kimbrel was brought in to put a stop to this scoring attempt, which he did. Otherwise the Redbirds had only five hits, the two home runs, a double by Tommy Edman in the eighth, a single by Woodford in the third, and a Tyler O’Neill single in the ninth.
Matt Carpenter made a fielding error in the fifth inning.
Sunday, June 13 – Cardinals 0 at Cubs 2
The Cardinals were swept by the Cubs in the three-game weekend series at Wrigley in a final 2-0 loss on Sunday night. In six games with the Cubs so far in the season, the Cardinals have won only one.
St. Louis’ offense was befuddled by the pitching of Cubs starter Zach Davies. No Cardinal had a hit off Davies until Tyler O’Neill’s drive to third base in the fifth inning that he tried to stretch in to a double but was thrown out at second. The first clean hit with no out attached was a ground rule double by Dylan Carlson, who was left stranded in the seventh. The Cardinals could not scratch a single run across the plate, hampered by only two hits all evening.
Starter Carlos Martinez pitched well after two rough starts. The right hander went seven innings and yielded only two unearned runs on four hits. He fanned six and walked one. Martinez was let down by his offense and his defense, which committed two errors on the infield. Both DeJong and Carpenter misplayed ground balls and DeJong’s error led to both Cubs runs.
Big Picture
The Cardinals were 1-4 in the week which resulted in the team falling below .500 at 32-33 and landing in fourth place in the NL Central, six games back of the Cubs. It is still to early to panic, but the recent 2-11 stretch has been miserable for St. Louis.
Injuries are certainly part of the equation, but not all of it. The pitching had been poor even before the rush of injuries, and the loss of their best starter in Jack Flaherty for a long stretch of time has exacerbated the problem.
Finding pitching outside the organization this early in the season is a tall task and likely an expensive one. The cheaper options, free agent pitchers still available, is not likely to solve the problem without a miracle or some very good luck.
The only starting pitcher the Cardinals have right now who can be counted upon is 39-year-old Adam Wainwright. Everyone else is a wild card. The bullpen is Giovanny Gallegos, Alex Reyes, and whoever else can get guys out at any given moment in time. This is not the recipe for a winning team.
The offense in the Cubs series was weak and inconsistent. The defense, especially in the infield, hasn’t been good. What was once one of the best defenses in baseball has fallen considerably. Injuries have made adjustments necessary, particularly on the infield, as Tommy Edman has been moved to right field, a position he plays adequately, but it is not his best position. He would contribute more at second base on a regular basis, as his replacement, Matt Carpenter, is a poor defender. Edmundo Sosa would be a better replacement, but manager Mike Shildt wants Carpenter’s bat in the lineup.
The top performers offensively for the week were Tyler O’Neill with a 1.183 OPS, Nolan Arenado with a 1.060 OPS, and Carpenter with an .867 OPS. Paul Goldschmidt and Yadier Molina have OPS’s under .800. The slumpers are Edman with an OPS of .469, and Dylan Carlson with an OPS of .368.
Better pitching, better defense, and a more consistent offense are must haves for this team if they want to get back to the top of the division. The team cannot continue to play as they have for the past two weeks.
The Cardinals upcoming week consists of a three game series at home against the Marlins, and a four game set in Atlanta. The Cardinals swept the Marlins early in the season, but the Miami team is playing better than they were then. The Braves are going to be difficult, as they always are. The Cardinals have to get on a winning streak to catch up to the Brewers and the Cubs.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB |
| Chicago | 38 | 27 | 0.585 | |
| Milwaukee | 38 | 27 | 0.585 | |
| Cincinnati | 32 | 31 | 0.508 | 5 |
| St. Louis | 32 | 33 | 0.492 | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 23 | 41 | 0.359 | 14.5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
Derrick Goold of the Post Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have discussed bringing former St. Louis pitcher Shelby Miller back to the organization. Miller is currently a free agent after being released by the Cubs earlier in the season. Miller may have acknowledged the interest in a cryptic tweet in response to Goold.
Transactions
- 6/10 The Cardinals claimed LHP Brandon Waddell off waivers from Baltimore and assigned him to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 6/10 The Cardinals optioned 1B John Nogowski to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 6/11 The Cardinals activated SS Paul DeJong from the 10-day injured list.
- 6/11 The Cardinals sent LF Justin Williams on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
Injury Report
- RHP Miles Mikolas (right forearm tightness), remains on the 60-day injured list. A second opinion by Dr. James Andrews revealed no structural damage to the UCL or a flexor tendon tear. Mikolas is receiving treatment for his right forearm injury and will not throw for the next four to six weeks, but is expected to return to pitch this season, perhaps by August.
- RHP Jordan Hicks (right elbow inflammation) continues on the 60-day injured list. Hicks received an injection and is expected to start some baseball activity by mid-June. It is anticipated Hicks will return to pitch sometime in August.
- SS Paul DeJong (left rib fracture) was activated from the 10-day injured list and has returned to the lineup.
- CF Harrison Bader (right rib hairline fracture) remains on the 10-day injured list. Bader was injured on May 24 while diving for a line drive and landing on the ball on his right side. Bader is still experiencing some discomfort and his activation is going to take a longer than previously expected. It is expected he will return some time in the second half of the month. No announcement has been made as to whether a rehab assignment will be needed.
- 2B Max Moroff (left shoulder subluxation) was placed on the 10 day injured list after suffering a shoulder injury in a batting practice session. Moroff had surgery on the shoulder and is out for the rest of the season.
- RHP Kodi Whitley (mid back spasms) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroctive to May 27. The relief pitcher has been playing catch and will likely need a rehab assignment before returning to the roster. He is expected back some time in the next few weeks.
- RHP Jack Flaherty (left oblique strain) was injured on Monday, May 31. The right hander felt tightness while pitching that was then exacerbated by swinging the bat. He was removed from the game after five innings. Imaging revealed a Grade 2 oblique strain and Flaherty is likely to miss significant time. John Mozeliak told the media a return in August is the most likely scenario.
- OF Justin Williams (neck stiffness) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 3. Williams has been sent on a rehab assignment to Memphis.
- LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim (right lower back tightness) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Kim reported being “jarred” by something while trying to beat out a ground ball. The injury is the same injury that he had in spring training that kept him out for two weeks. The left hander threw a couple of bullpen sessions this weekend with no issues and is expected to return to the rotation as soon as Tuesday.
- RHP Dakota Hudson (Tommy John surgery) has been expected to be out all of the 2021 season. Recently there has been talk that Hudson believes he can return late in the season in a bullpen role if all works out. Whether this is possible is a matter of debate but Hudson appears to be working toward this goal.
Looking Ahead
Following the weekend series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the team returns home to play a three game series at Busch Stadium against the Miami Marlins.
Following the Marlins series, the team travels to Atlanta for a four game set with the Braves. After an off day the Cardinals will play two games in Detroit against the Tigers.
The Cardinals will then return to St. Louis to play a four game series with the Pirates. The homestand continues on Monday, June 28 with a three games series against the Diamondbacks.
July begins in Denver with four games at Coors Field with the Rockies.
The Cardinals regular season schedule can be found here.
Blast from the Past
This week’s installment of the Cardinals major league debut series looks at starting pitchers, both current and injured. Included in this segment are any pitchers who made at least one start in 2021.
Adam Wainwright – The long term Cardinal right hander was not home grown but made his major league debut with St. Louis. His debut came on September 11, 2005 in a 7-2 loss to the Mets. Wainwright got his start in the bullpen and was the ninth inning pitcher in this game. In his debut, he gave up a single to his first batter, walked the second, retired the next two hitters on lineouts, then gave up a three run home run to Victor Diaz. He induced a pop out to get the final out of the game. Wainwright made only two appearances in 2005. The second one was on September 23 in a 9-6 loss to the Brewers. He appeared in the seventh inning and retired all three batters he faced. He did not get his first strikeout until April 3, 2006 in a 13-5 win over the Phillies. Wainwright pitched the eighth inning and struck out his second batter, David Delluci, on a called third strike.
Jack Flaherty (on the 10-day IL) – Flaherty made his major league debut on September 1, 2017 in an 11-6 win over the Giants at AT &T Park. Flaherty started the game and pitched four innings. It wasn’t a great outing as he gave up five runs on eight hits, but he did strike out six. In fact he struck out the first hitter he faced, Denard Span, on five pitches and retired all three batters he faced in that inning. He surrendered three runs in the second on a two run home run and an RBI single. He yielded a two run triple in the third, then retired all three batters in the fourth. Flaherty made five starts in 2017, with a record of 0-2 and an ERA of 6.33. He made one relief appearance of one inning in relief of Luke Weaver on September 25.
Carlos Martinez – Martinez debuted with the Cardinals on May 3, 2013 in a 6-1 win over the Brewers at -Miller Park. The right hander’s initial role was out of the bullpen and he pitched the seventh inning in relief of Shelby Miller. He gave up a single to the first batter, then induced a double play and a ground out. His first major league strikeout was on May 5 in that same series. He fanned Carlos Gomez swinging in the ninth inning. Martinez pitched out of the bullpen in May, then was optioned to Memphis on May 27. He was recalled on July 11 and made bullpen appearances in three games that month. He was optioned to Memphis again on July 27, then recalled on August 8 to make his first start in a 5-1 loss to the Dodgers in Busch Stadium. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Martinez struck out two Dodgers, the first one being Adrian Gonzalez in the first inning, who struck out swinging. That was his first punch out as a starter.
Miles Mikolas (on the 60-day IL) Mikolas so far has made only one start this season, on May 22 against the Cubs. He pitched four innings and then was removed with an injury. Mikolas made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres on May 5, 2012 as a reliever. He pitched the ninth inning in a 4-1 loss to the Miami Marlins. He gave up a home run to his first hitter, Giancarlo Stanton, walked the next hitter, then struck out John Buck looking for his first major league punch out. He retired Mark Buehrle on a sac bunt and struck out Jose Reyes looking. Mikolas was shuttled back and forth between Triple-A and the major league club and made 25 total appearances for the Padres that year. In 2013 he spent almost the entire season at Triple-A but did make two appearances for the Padres on July 11 and July 31. The Padres designated Mikolas for assignment in the offseason and traded him to the Texas Rangers. He made his first start with the Rangers on July 2 against Baltimore, made 10 starts with the Rangers in July and August and was released at the end of the season. He played three years in Japan before being signed by the Cardinals.
Kwang-Hyun Kim (on the 10-day IL) – Kim was signed by the Cardinals after pitching 13 seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization. He made his debut with St. Louis on July 24, 2020 in a 5-4 win over the Pirates at Busch Stadium. Kim pitched the ninth inning in a game started by Jack Flaherty. He gave up two runs, one unearned, in the inning. The first batter, Josh Bell, reached on an E5, them Kim gave up a double to Colin Moran and a single to Jose Osuna that scored Bell and Moran. He then induced Guillermo Heredia to lineout to right and Jacob Stallings hit into a double play. His next game on August 17 was a start and he pitched 3 2/3 innings in a 3-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field in the opener of a doubleheader. His first major league strikeout was of Ian Happ in the first inning, who struck out swinging.
John Gant – Gant made his major league debut with the Atlanta Braves on April 6, 2016 in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout. His first major league strikeout was of Wilson Ramos, a strikeout swinging on seven pitches. He gave up one single in that inning. He made his first start as a Brave on June 12, 2016 in a 13-2 loss to the Cubs. He pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits. He struck out five and walked four. His first punch out as a starter was of Ben Zobrist in the first inning, who struck out swinging on three pitches. The Cardinals acquired Gant in December 2016 in the Jaime Garcia trade.
Johan Oviedo – The Cardinals signed Oviedo as an international free agent on July 2, 2016. The Cuban native made his major league debut on August 19, 2020 in a 4-2 loss to the Cubs in the second game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Oviedo started and pitched five innings, gave up two runs on two hits, fanned four and walked two. His first major league strikeout was of Javier Baez in the first inning as Baez struck out swinging on five pitches. Oviedo retired all three batters in that first inning. The two runs he gave up were in the second inning. He walked Kyle Schwarber and Wilson Contreras before a single to Victor Caratini scored both. Oviedo made five starts in 2020; all were Cardinals losses.
Daniel Ponce de Leon – Ponce de Leon has made only two starts in 2021, on April 5, and April 11. Since then, following a stint on the 10-day IL, he has pitched out of the bullpen. Ponce de Leon made his major league debut with the Cardinals on July 23, 2018 in a 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. He pitched seven scoreless, no-hit innings, fanned three and walked three. Bud Norris gave up the two winning runs to the Reds in the ninth inning. His first major league strikeout was of Adam Duvall in the second inning, who struck out swinging on three pitches.
Next week we will revisit the debuts of bullpen pitchers on the roster as of that day.
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