MJ Melendez breaks 8th inning tie with single, Royals beat White Sox 2-1
MJ Melendez broke an eighth-inning tie with a single to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Friday nightAPRIL 6 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHRIS STRATTON #35 - PITCHER - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
4-3 W-L •
1.47 WHIP •
5.55 ERA
4-3 W-L
1.47 WHIP
5.55 ERA
RHPs Seth Lugo, Chris Stratton agree to deals with Royals, AP sources say
Two people familiar with the deals tell The Associated Press that right-handers Seth Lugo and Chris Stratton have agreed to deals with the Kansas City RoyalsDECEMBER 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rangers acquire starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery and reliever Chris Stratton from the Cardinals
The AL West-leading Texas Rangers continued to load up on pitching by acquiring left-hander Jordan Montgomery and reliever Chris Stratton from the St. Louis CardinalsJULY 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shipped to Texas The Cardinals acquired Stratton and left-hander Jordan Montgomery from the Rangers on Sunday in exchange for left-hander John King, infielder Thomas Saggese and right-hander Tekoah...
Impact Stratton is the secondary piece in the deal for the Rangers, who will fortify their rotation depth with the addition of Montgomery. Meanwhile, Stratton will should settle in as a setup man in Texas, likely settling in behind closer Will Smith and Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen hierarchy. Pitching on a $2.8 million salary in his final year of arbitration, Stratton has produced a 4.36 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 59:17 K:BB in 53.2 innings with St. Louis. He'll likely set himself up for a nice pay raise in free agency this winter if he can finish the season on a high note with his new club.
JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Notches first save Stratton picked up the save in Wednesday's 6-4 victory over the Marlins, allowing a run on two hits while logging a strikeout over an inning.
Impact The Cardinals turned to Stratton to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning, with Jordan Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos each having pitched in consecutive games. Stratton allowed a run on a Luis Arraez double before coaxing a flyout from Jorge Soler to earn his first save this season. The 32-year-old Stratton has a 4.17 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 53:13 K:BB across 49.2 innings this year. While he's still behind Hicks and Gallegos in the St. Louis bullpen hierarchy, Stratton could be a name to watch if the Cardinals elect to move some relief pitching at the trade deadline.
JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Stuck with loss Monday Stratton (1-1) allowed a run on three hits over one inning, taking the loss Monday versus the Giants.
Impact Stratton has been scored on in four of his last 10 outings, yielding nine runs over 13.1 innings in that span. He's added a 15:5 K:BB over those appearances. For the season, he has a passable 3.93 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 39:8 K:BB over 36.2 innings in a middle-relief role. His inconsistency of late makes it unlikely that he'll get many late-inning looks even with Ryan Helsley (forearm) on the injured list.
JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Picks up first win Stratton (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Cubs.
Impact Stratton got the last out of the seventh inning and stayed in for the eighth in a 4-4 game. The Cardinals pulled ahead in the ninth, and Giovanny Gallegos earned the save to give Stratton his first win in 14 appearances this season. Stratton has done relatively well in a low-leverage role with a 2.95 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 21:3 K:BB over 21.1 innings. He's logged the most innings of any Cardinals reliever this season, but his ability to cover multiple frames likely prevents him from being a candidate for save chances.
MAY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Some struggles in spring Stratton has allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings across four Grapefruit League appearances.
Impact He's also struck out three batters. Stratton has 11 career saves, but he's likely ticketed for a middle-relief assignment in his first full season with the Cardinals. The right-hander has had issues with permitting too many baserunners throughout his career -- he's never posted a BB/9 lower than 3.4 or a WHIP lower than 1.30. He could also be a long-shot candidate to be a spot starter, though he's only made six starts over the last four seasons and the Cardinals have a surplus of potential starters.
MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Agrees to one-year deal Stratton signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday.
Impact Stratton was traded from the Pirates to the Cardinals last season and will remain in St. Louis for at least one more year after reaching a new deal ahead of Friday's non-tender deadline. Over 60 appearances (one start) in 2022, he posted a 4.26 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 63.1 innings.
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Left off wild-card roster Stratton was left off the Cardinals' wild-card roster Friday.
Impact Stratton will begin the postseason as a member of the Cardinals' taxi squad after failing to be selected for their wild-card roster. The right-hander is a surprising omission from the postseason roster after posting a 1.50 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 18 innings in his final 16 appearances of the regular season. He'll have another shot to join the active unit if St. Louis advances in the postseason.
OCTOBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Defeats former team Stratton (10-4) earned the extra-inning win Tuesday, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings.
Impact Stratton's 10 wins are tied with Toronto's Adam Cimber for the most among major-league relievers this year. Since the start of September, Stratton has allowed just two runs on eight hits and four walks over 10.1 innings. The righty owns a 4.26 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 60:25 K:BB through 63.1 innings between the Cardinals and the Pirates this season. Stratton will likely serve as a multi-inning reliever for the Cardinals during the postseason.
OCTOBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pujols has 2 more RBIs, Cardinals beat Pirates 8-7 in 10
Albert Pujols drove in two more runs and the St. Louis Cardinals went on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 in 10 innings Tuesday nightOCTOBER 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pujols hits 701st homer, Flaherty pitches Cards past Pirates
Albert Pujols hit his 701st home run, Jack Flaherty allowed one run in six innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grabs another win Stratton (9-4) retired the only batter he faced to earn the win Friday over the Reds.
Impact Stratton got the last out of the top of the seventh inning before the Cardinals rallied ahead in the bottom half of the frame. Stratton has picked up two wins in his last three appearances, and he's logged a solid 3.06 ERA despite a 1.47 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB in 17.2 innings with the Cardinals since joining them from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Albert Pujols hits 698th homer, helps Cards beat Reds 6-5
Albert Pujols hit his 698th home run, a tying two-run drive in the sixth inning that sparked the St. Louis Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 6-5SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pujols' 697th HR, moves into 4th, rallies Cards over Pirates
Albert Pujols hit his 697th home run, moving past Alex Rodriguez into fourth place on the career list and doing it in dramatic fashion with a ninth-inning drive that rallied the St...SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pujols hits 696th HR, ties A-Rod for 4th; Cards beat Pirates
Albert Pujols hit his 696th home run, tying Alex Rodriguez for fourth place on the career list, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goldschmidt, Arenado, Pujols: Why the Cardinals have outplayed projections
The Cardinals were expected to regress behind an aging roster. Pedro Moura explains why they're instead headed for the playoffs.AUGUST 31, 2022
Pujols hits grand slam, leads Wainwright, Cards over Rockies
Albert Pujols launched a pinch-hit grand slam and drove in five runs, Adam Wainwright pitched seven sharp innings and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Colorado Rockies 13-0 for a...AUGUST 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grabs first win with new team Stratton (6-4) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out four over 1.2 innings, earning the win Sunday over the Yankees.
Impact Stratton didn't have a great outing, allowing two runners inherited from Adam Wainwright to score in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Stratton was charged with two more runs, but the Cardinals never fell behind, and he ended up with his first win in three appearances with his new team. This was the first time the right-handed had allowed multiple runs since June 27. He has a 5.08 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB across 44.1 innings between St. Louis and Pittsburgh this year. He picked up two saves and eight holds with the Pirates, but he's expected to see lower-leverage assignments with the Cardinals.
AUGUST 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Quintana wins in St. Louis debut, Cardinals sweep DH vs Cubs
Newly acquired José Quintana won in his debut with St. Louis, Tyler O’Neill and Nolan Arenado homered and the Cardinals beat Chicago 7-2, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Cub...AUGUST 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wainwright, reunited with Molina, hurls Cards past Cubs 6-0
Adam Wainwright pitched seven spotless innings with longtime catcher Yadier Molina back behind the plate, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0AUGUST 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cruz HR keys outburst as Pirates beat Brewers 5-3, end skid
Rookie Oneil Cruz hit a three-run homer to spark a five-run sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for a 5-3 victory over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, snapping...AUGUST 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goes to Cardinals Stratton was traded to the Cardinals from the Pirates in the Jose Quintana deal Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Impact The veteran has not had a great season, posting a 5.09 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 40.2 innings. However, the Cardinals will attempt to get him back on track and boost their bullpen the rest of the way.
AUGUST 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pirates trade José Quintana and Chris Stratton, aiming to build depth at first base Righty Johan Oviedo is a major-league-ready pitcher but corner infield prospect Malcom Nunez figures to be the cornerstone of the deal.
AUGUST 2, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
