Angel Rondon Could Be A Darkhorse In 2020

The St. Louis Cardinals will have a strong bullpen already in 2020 but Angel Rondon could be a player who comes out of nowhere to have an impact.

Redbird Rants

Former Cardinals Randy Arozarena, Mike Mayers Sizzled This Spring With New Teams, While Others Made Chilly First Impressions

The coverage and box scores spilling out of the Tampa Bay Rays’ spring training provided confirmation for the most consistent thing I heard year after year about a young, speedy, Cuban outfielder scaling his way toward the Cardinals.

Birdland

Miles Mikolas, Tyler Webb, Rangel Ravelo, John Gant, & Others Are Out Of Options

The following 40-man roster players have less than five years service time and are out of minor league options. That means they must clear waivers before being sent to the minors. I’ve included players on multiyear deals. This list was compiled through MLBTR’s helpful sources.

MLB Trade Rumors

Former Cardinals Playing In MLB Spring Training 3-8-2020: Charlie Tilson Doubles & Drives In One Run; David Carpenter Strikes Out One Over One Hitless/Scoreless Inning For The Save; David Peralta Singles Twice & Knocks In One Run

Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco takes a leap behind Charlie Tilson during drills Wednesday at LECOM Park in Bradenton. pic.twitter.com/AZtXhwDJsX

— Matt Freed (@mattfreedpghpg) March 4, 2020

Luke Voit (former St. Louis-New York-A) started at first base and batted second.  1-for-4 with one ground into double play and assisted in one double play.

New York-A and Baltimore tied 5-5

Johan Mieses (former Memphis-Boston) entered late in the game in right field and batted leadoff.  0-for-1 with one run and one walk.

Boston beat Minnesota 7-6

Pete Kozma (former St. Louis-Atlanta) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted second.  0-for-1 at the plate.
Rafael Ortega (former Memphis-Atlanta) started in left field and batted ninth.  0-for-2 with one strikeout.
Shane Robinson (former St. Louis-Atlanta) entered late in the game in left field and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.

Adam Ottavino (former St. Louis-New York-A) entered in the fifth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (g/f:1-0)

New York-A beat Atlanta 1-0

Charlie Tilson (former Memphis-Pittsburgh) entered late in the game in left field and batted seventh.  1-for-1 with one double and one RBI.

Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay tied 2-2

Sam Freeman (former St. Louis-Washington) entered in the ninth and pitched to four batters.  He allowed two hits, three runs (two earned), one walk, threw two wild pitches, and struck one out for the blown save (1) and losing decision (0-1).

Detroit beat Washington 7-5

Bud Norris (former St. Louis-Philadelphia) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed three hits, three earned runs, one home run, threw one wild pitch, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-0)

Randal Grichuk (former St. Louis-Toronto) started in centerfield and batted fifth.  0-for-2 with one walk and two strikeouts.
Ruben Tejada (former St. Louis-Toronto) started at third base and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one run and one walk.

Toronto beat Philadelphia 9-0

Aledmys Diaz (former St. Louis-Houston) started in left field and batted seventh.  1-for-2 with one double and one run.

New York-N beat Houston 3-1

David Peralta (former Johnson City-Arizona) started in left field and batted fourth.  2-for-4 with one RBI and one strikeout.
Andy Young (former Springfield-Arizona) started at third base and batted sixth.  0-for-3 with one walk and two strikeouts.
Jon Jay (former St. Louis-Arizona) started in right field and batted seventh.  2-for-4 with one double and one run.
Ildemaro Vargas (former Springfield-Arizona) started at second base and batted eighth.  3-for-3 with one hit by pitch.
Edwin Jackson (former St. Louis-Arizona) entered in the fifth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, one walk, and struck two out.  (g/f:0-1)

Jason Heyward (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) started in right field and batted fourth.  0-for-2 with one walk and one strikeout.
Daniel Descalso (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) started at third base and batted sixth.  1-for-2 with one run and one strikeout.

Arizona beat Chicago-N 8-1

Brian O'Keefe (former Springfield-Seattle) enter late in the game at catcher and batted seventh.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.

Drew Robinson (former Memphis-San Franicsco) entered late in the game at second base and batted fifth.  1-for-1 with one double, one RBI, and one run.

San Francisco beat Seattle 8-4

Anthony Garcia (former Memphis-Los Angeles) entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted ninth.  0-for-2 with one strikeout.
Edubray Ramos (former VSL-Los Angeles) entered in the sixth and pitched to six batters.  He allowed four hits and three earned runs for the blown save (1).  (g/f:1-1)

Jose Adolis Garcia (former St. Louis-Texas) entered late in the game in right field and batted fourth.  1-for-1 at the plate.

Texas beat Los Angeles 9-8

Mike Mayers (former St. Louis-Anaheim) entered in the sixth and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit, no runs, and struck three out.

Jedd Gyorko (former St. Louis-Milwaukee) started at third base and batted seventh.  0-for-2 with one strikeout and assisted in one double play.
Shelby Miller (former St. Louis-Milwaukee) started and pitched 2.1 innings.  He allowed two hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck three out.  (g/f:2-0)

Milwaukee beat Anaheim 7-3

Francisco Pena (former St. Louis-Cincinnati) started at catcher and batted ninth.  0-for-2 with one walk, two strikeouts, and threw out one of three base runners.
Matthew Bowman (former St. Louis-Cincinnati) entered in the sixth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs for the winning decision (1-0).  (g/f:2-0)
David Carpenter (former Palm Beach-Cincinnati) entered in the ninth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out for the save (1).  (g/f:2-0)

Trevor Megill (former 2014 draft selection-Chicago-N) entered in the fifth and pitched one inning.  He allowed four hits, two earned runs, one home run, and two walks.  (g/f:1-0)

Cincinnati beat Chicago-N 11-9

Dominic Leone (former St. Louis-Cleveland) entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:16-7)(g/f:0-1)

Colorado beat Cleveland 3-1

Tommy Pham (former St. Louis-San Diego) started as designated hitter and batted leadoff.  0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Breyvic Valera (former St. Louis-San Diego) entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted leadoff.  0-for-1 at the plate.
Greg Garcia (former St. Louis-San Diego) entered late in the game at second base and batted fifth.  0-for-1 at the plate.

Chicago-A beat San Diego 6-0

Did The Front Office Hamstring The Cardinals From Making A Splash In Free Agency?

Have you ever acquired something and found it to be a bad decision a few years later?

KSDK

Bernie On The Cardinals: The Cubs Make A Timely Front Office Hire That Could Change The NL Central

The Cubs made a smart and timely hire this week by tabbing former Cardinals’ draft director Dan Kantrovitz as their new VP of scouting.

101 ESPN

Offseason Checklist: Cardinals' Needs & Moves

The Cardinals won the National League Central in 2019 and made it back to the postseason after a three-year hiatus. But they suffered a swift exit in the NL Championship Series when their offense disappeared against the Nationals in a four-game sweep.

St. Louis Official Site

Kolten Wong, Seeking First Gold Glove, Wins Second Fielding Bible Award; Angels Claim Mike Mayers On Waivers

Perhaps as a prelude to his potentially winning his first Rawlings Gold Glove, Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong captured his second consecutive Fielding Bible Award on Friday as the major leagues’ top-fielding second baseman, in voting conducted by Baseball Info Solutions.

Post-Dispatch

Angels Claim Mike Mayers Off Waivers; Cardinals Outright Joe Hudson To Triple-A Memphis, Jordan Hicks, Brett Cecil, & Lane Thomas Activated From Disabled List

The Cardinals’ offseason roster reconstruction continued on Friday, as the club moved three players off the 60-day injured list, outrighted one to the Minors and lost another via waivers.

St. Louis Official Site

Cardinasl Reassigned 15 To The Minors

St. Louis Official Site

Cubs Beat Cardinals 8-2: Dakota Hudson Strikes Out Ten Over Five Scoreless Innings; Matt Carpenter Singles, Walks, & Hits A Solo Home Run; Yadier Molina Singles Twice & Drives In Two Runs

Individual Highlights:
Tommy Edman started at second base and batted second.  3-for-4 with one double, one run, one walk, and one stolen base.
Marcell Ozuna started in left field and batted fourth.  2-for-4 with one walk and one strikeout.
Yadier Molina started at catcher and batted fifth.  2-for-5 with one two-out RBI.
Matt Carpenter started at third base and batted sixth.  2-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one run, one walk, and one hit by pitch.
Dakota Hudson started and pitched five innings.  He allowed two hits, no runs, five walks (one intentional), and struck ten out.  0-for-2 with one strikeout.  (p-s:97-59)(g/f:5-0)
Genesis Cabrera entered in the seventh and pitched to one batter.  He allowed no hits or runs.  (p-s:7-4)(g/f:0-1)(ir-s:1-0)
Mike Mayers entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:15-11)(g/f:0-2)
Junior Fernandez entered in the ninth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:12-8)(g/f:2-0)

Rough Outing:
Dexter Fowler started in right field and batted leadoff.  0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
Paul Goldschmidt started at first base and batted third.  0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Paul DeJong started at shortstop and batted seventh.  0-for-3 with one walk and one strikeout.
Harrison Bader started in centerfield and batted eighth.  0-for-3 with one walk and two strikeouts.
Jose Martinez entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.
Rangel Ravelo entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.
Giovanny Gallegos entered in the sixth and pitched one inning.  He allowed two hits, one earned run, one home run, and one walk for the blown save (3).  (p-s:27-17)(g/f:2-0)
Andrew Miller entered in the seventh and pitched to five batters.  He allowed two hits, four earned runs, one walk, hit one batter, threw one wild pitch, and struck one out for the losing decision (5-6).  (p-s:17-8)
Ryan Helsley entered in the seventh and pitched to five batters.  He allowed four hits, three earned runs, and one home run.  (p-s:16-13)(g/f:0-1)

Boxscore
St. Louis Official Site Post Game
Cardinal Beat Post Game
Post-Dispatch Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Cardinals Homestand Highlights: Friday, September 27 - Sunday, September 29, 2019

The Cardinals return to Busch assured of a playoff berth, but just one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central. The thirteenth homestand of the season brings the rival Chicago Cubs in for the final three games of the regular season (September 27-29). Depending on this weekend’s results, the Cardinals could clinch the Central division title as early as Saturday or be forced to play a tiebreaker game against the Brewers on Monday at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Official Site

Michael Wacha To Undergo MRI On Ailing Right Shoulder

After the Cardinals used 10 relievers in Tuesday night’s 19-inning loss to the D-backs, they were looking for a deep start from Michael Wacha on Wednesday.

St. Louis Official Site

Diamondbacks Beat Cardinals 9-7: Jose Martinez Singles, Doubles, Triples, & Drives In Two Runs; Matt Wieters Singles & Knocks In Two Runs; John Gant Strikes Out Three Over One & Two-Thirds Scoreless Innings For The Hold

Individual Highlights:
Tommy Edman started at third base and batted leadoff.  2-for-4 with two runs, one hit by pitch, one strikeout, and one fielding error.
Jose Martinez started in right field and batted second.  3-for-5 with one double, one triple, two RBIs, two runs, and two strikeouts.
Rangel Ravelo started at first base and batted third.  0-for-3 with one RBI, one walk, one sac fly, and one strikeout.
Matt Wieters started at catcher and batted fourth.  1-for-5 with two RBIs, one fielding error, and allowed one stolen base.
Randy Arozarena started in centerfield and moved to left, batting sixth.  2-for-4 with one home run, one RBI, two runs, two stolen bases, and one outfield assist.
Yairo Munoz started at shortstop and batted seventh.  1-for-3 with one walk and grounded into one double play.
Edmundo Sosa started at second base and batted eighth.  1-for-3 with one run, one walk, and one strikeout.
Mike Mayers entered in the second and pitched 1.1 innings.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.  (p-s:19-12)(g/f:1-1)(ir-s:1-0)
John Gant entered in the fourth and pitched 1.2 innings.  He allowed one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck three out for the hold (19).  (p-s:26-16)
Tyler Webb entered in the sixth and pitched 1.2 innings.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:17-12)(g/f:3-1)
Dominic Leone entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, two walks, and struck one out.  (p-s:22-12)

Rough Outing:
Tyler O'Neill started in left field and batted fifth.  0-for-2 with one walk and two strikeouts.
Paul Goldschmidt entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted fifth.  0-for-1 with one ground into double play.
Harrison Bader entered late in the game in centerfield and batted ninth.  0-for-2 with two strikeouts.
Michael Wacha started and pitched 1.2 innings.  He allowed four hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck three out.  (p-s:43-25)(g/f:1-0)
Genesis Cabrera entered in the fifth and pitched to four batters.  He allowed one hit, three runs (two earned), one walk, threw one wild pitch, and struck one out for the hold (2).  (p-s:25-14)(g/f:1-0)(ir-s:1-0)
Junior Fernandez entered in the sixth and pitched to five batters.  He allowed two hits, four earned runs, one home run, one walk, and threw one wild pitch for the blown save (3) and losing decision (0-1).  (p-s:17-9)(g/f:2-0)(ir-s:2-2)

Boxscore
St. Louis Official Site Post Game
Cardinal Beat Post Game
Post-Dispatch Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Pirates Beat Cardinals 9-4: Tommy Edman Hits A Two-Run & Solo Home Run; Miles Mikolas Strikes Out Seven & Allows One Run Over Five Innings; Matt Carpenter Doubles & Drives In One Run

Individuual Highlights:
Jose Martinez entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted second.  1-for-1 at the plate.
Paul Goldschmidt started at first base and batted third.  1-for-3 with two walks and assisted in two double plays.
Yadier Molina started at catcher and batted sixth.  1-for-4 with one double and one strikeout.
Tommy Edman started at third base and batted seventh.  2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, two runs, and one strikeout.
Matt Carpenter entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth.  1-for-1 with one double and one RBI.
Yairo Munoz entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth.  1-for-1 at the plate.
Miles Mikolas started and pitched five innings.  He allowed three hits, one earned run, four walks, hit one batter, and struck seven out.  0-for-2 with one strikeout.  (p-s:99-60)(g/f:5-1)
Tyler Webb entered in the sixth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out for the hold (5).  (p-s:15-11)(g/f:1-1)

Rough Outing:
Dexter Fowler started in right field and batted leadoff.  0-for-5 with one strikeout.
Marcell Ozuna started in left field and batted fourth.  0-for-3 with one walk and grounded into one double play.
John Gant entered in the seventh and pitched to three batters.  He allowed one hit, two earned runs, one walk, and struck one out for the hold (17).  (p-s:10-5)
Andrew Miller entered in the seventh and pitched to four batters.  He allowed three hits, three earned runs, and struck one out for the blown save (3) and losing decision (4-5).  (p-s:13-10)(ir-s:2-2)
John Brebbia entered in the seventh and pitched to three batters.  He allowed two hits and one earned run.  (p-s:14-10)(g/f:1-0)(ir-s:2-2)
Mike Mayers entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed three hits, two earned runs, one intentional walk, and struck one out.  (p-s:12-8)(g/f:1-0)

Boxscore
St. Louis Official Site Post Game
Cardinal Beat Post Game
Post-Dispatch Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Video: Mike Mayers On His New Outlook "Just Go Out & Enjoy It" 9-3-19

Mike Mayers is glad to get another chance to play for Mike Shildt: "He's the guy who told me I was going to the big leagues. We've kind of been together since 2014." #TimeToFly pic.twitter.com/X7myjpTOan

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) September 3, 2019

Miles Mikolas Plays Mound Protector Vs. Reds; Doubling Up On Catchers; Mike Mayers Gets Another Chance; John Gant Heads For Cardinals' Record; Tommy Edman Three For Three; An August August; Rough Return To Outfield

The Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas was part pitcher and part groundskeeper in Sunday’s first game of the doubleheader.

Post-Dispatch

Reds Beat Cardinals 5-3 In Game Two Of Doubleheader: Andrew Knizner Hits A Two-Run Homer; Kolten Wong Singles Twice, Triples, & Drives In One Run; John Brebbia Retires One Batter & Holds The Bases Loaded

Individual Highlights:
Kolten Wong started at second base and batted second.  3-for-4 with one triple and one RBI.
Harrison Bader started in centerfield and batted seventh.  1-for-3 with one run, one walk, two strikeouts, one outfield assist, and assisted in one double play.
Andrew Knizner started at catcher and batted eighth.  1-for-4 with one home run, two RBIs, one run, one strikeout, grounded into one double play, one fielding error, and assisted in one double play.
Junior Fernandez entered in the eighth and pitched 1.1 innings.  He allowed no hits or runs, two walks, hit one batter, and struck two out.  (p-s:36-16)(g/f:2-0)
John Brebbia entered in the ninth and pitched to one batter.  He allowed no hits or runs.  (p-s:2-1)(g/f:0-1)(ir-s:3-0)

Rough Outing:
Paul DeJong started at shortstop and batted third.  0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
Tyler O'Neill started in left field and batted fourth.  0-for-3 with one walk and one strikeout.
Matt Carpenter started at third base and batted fifth.  0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Tommy Edman entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted sixth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.
Daniel Ponce De Leon started and pitched four innings.  He allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), one home run, one walk, hit one batter, and struck two out for the losing decision (1-2).  0-for-2 at the plate.  (p-s:81-53)(g/f:6-6)
Dominic Leone entered in the fifth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, one walk, and struck one out.  (p-s:15-11)(g/f:1-1)(ir-s:2-1)
Mike Mayers entered in the sixth and pitched two innings.  He allowed two hits, one earned run, one home run, and struck three out.  (p-s:32-22)(g/f:1-0)

Boxscore
St. Louis Official Site Post Game
Cardinal Beat Post Game
Post-Dispatch Post Game

Cardinals Activated Jose Martinez From The Injured List, Recalled Andrew Knizner, Rangel Ravelo, Genesis Cabrera, Junior Fernandez, & Daniel Ponce De Leon From Triple-A Memphis, Purchased The Contracts Of Mike Mayers & Joe Hudson From Memphis, & Transferred Lane Thomas From Ten-Day To 60-Day Injured List; Briaon O'Keefe Promoted From Double-A Springfield To Memphis; Michael Baird & Kyle Leahy Promoted Were From A-Advanced Palm Beach To Springfield

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have added eight players to their active roster, as Major League Baseball rules allow for the September 1 expansion of active rosters to 40.
St. Louis Official Site

September 1 has brought expanded rosters and a fresh cast of characters to the Cardinals for the stretch run.
KMOV

The calendar couldn’t turn to September at a better time for the Cardinals, who are in the midst of back-to-back doubleheaders and play an afternoon game Monday.
St. Louis Official Site

MiLB Official Site

Cardinals To Add Nine Callups With Emphasis On Familiar Roles; Matt Wieters Return?; Lane Thomas, On The Run; Extra Bases

When it came to choosing and coordinating the minor-league promotions for this September, the Cardinals sided with role over reward, and roster ramifications ruled, as usual.

Post-Dispatch