ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NEWS

Jake Woodford - Expected to make roster Woodford is "all but locked into" an Opening Day roster spot with the Cardinals, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact The news comes after Woodford struck out seven over five scoreless innings Monday against the Marlins in Grapefruit League play. Woodford is throwing harder this spring and has collected a 2.04 ERA and 18:5 K:BB across 17.2 frames. He's in line for long relief duty and could be the first guy called upon if the Cards need a rotation reinforcement.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Paul DeJong - Expected to require IL stint DeJong (back) said Monday that he expects to begin the season on the injured list, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact DeJong had been slated to return to Grapefruit League play in the designated hitter spot Tuesday, but he had a setback with his lower-back injury while fielding grounders Monday. He doesn't expect to be able to get into another spring game, so being ready for Opening Day isn't realistic. With DeJong out, the Cardinals could consider carrying Taylor Motter as a backup at shortstop behind Tommy Edman.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brendan Donovan - Excellent in spring Donovan is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with a team-leading four home runs over 14 Grapefruit League games.

Impact Donovan's value to the Cardinals comes as a utility man, but his spring play should serve to get him an everyday role in the lineup to begin the season. He's the projected starter at second base, especially with Tommy Edman needed at shortstop to cover for the injured Paul DeJong (back). Donovan hit well as a rookie last year, slashing .281/.394/.379 with five home runs, 45 RBI, 64 runs scored and two stolen bases over 126 contests. With his versatility, he should remain in the mix for a starting role even if his hitting drops a bit.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Yepez - Long look in spring Yepez has gone 10-for-44 (.227) across 15 Grapefruit League games.

Impact Yepez's hitting hasn't been great, which is a little concerning since he's not guaranteed a roster spot. The 25-year-old has gotten a long look with a lot of Cardinals away at the World Baseball Classic, but the intensity of a competition for a roster spot should increase over the next week. Yepez could still make the roster as an option at designated hitter with the ability to check in at the corner infield and corner outfield spots, though his best path to playing time in the field is as Paul Goldschmidt's backup at first base.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

DeJong (back) suffers setback, likely to start season on IL JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals received some roster clarity Monday, when Paul DeJong suffered a setback in his return from back pain that ha...

MARCH 20, 2023 • MLB.COM

Paul DeJong - Hits snag, iffy for Opening Day Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that DeJong recently suffered a setback in his recovery from back soreness and is questionable to be ready to go for Opening Day, Derric...

Impact DeJong's back issue first cropped up March 14, but after he made some progress in the days that followed, the Cardinals had been earmarking Tuesday's game against the Nationals for his return to the Grapefruit League lineup. Those plans have now been scrapped in light of DeJong's setback, but Marmol said the Cardinals will put a plan together later Monday to see when or if a return to the lineup is possible for the shortstop before the end of the spring. If DeJong is forced to the injured list to begin the season, the move could pave the way for non-roster invitee Taylor Motter to make the Cardinals' Opening Day squad as a reserve infielder.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals roster projection 2.0: Who to watch with a week of spring training remaining Jordan Walker's hot spring continues, but adding him to the roster is about more than talent; plus, a look at the bullpen logjam.

MARCH 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Lessons learned as a child showing maturity, poise for Cardinals prospect Tink Hence At around the time Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence was eight or nine years old, the baseball conversations he’d hear while sitting in...

MARCH 20, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Nolan Arenado - Expected to be fine Mark DeRosa said after Sunday's World Baseball Classic win over Cuba that Arenado (hand) is believed to be fine, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Arenado was removed from Sunday's matchup after being hit by a pitch on his right hand, but he underwent X-rays that came back negative. DeRosa said Arenado would have argued to stay in the game if the game was closer, but the third baseman was removed since Team USA held a 9-2 lead at the time of his departure. Given the encouraging update, it seems possible that Arenado will be available for the World Baseball Classic championship Tuesday.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Arenado hit by pitch one night after Altuve breaks thumb

Nolan Arenado left Team USA’s semifinal game against Cuba on Sunday in the fifth inning after he was hit on the hand by a pitch

MARCH 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nolan Arenado - X-rays negative Arenado (hand) underwent X-rays that came back negative after exiting Sunday's World Baseball Classic game against Cuba, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Impact Arenado appeared to be in good spirits in the dugout following his early exit Sunday, and the results of his X-ray are encouraging. While it's not yet clear whether he'll be available if Team USA advances to the World Baseball Classic final, it certainly seems possible he'll be available for MLB Opening Day on March 30.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nolan Arenado - Exits WBC semifinal Arenado exited Sunday's World Baseball Classic semifinal against Cuba in the bottom of the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch on his right hand, Jeff Jones of the Belleville N...

Impact Arenado got off to a hot start in Sunday's matchup, going 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs, an RBI and a strikeout. While he was removed from the game immediately after being hit by the pitch, he appeared to be in good spirits in the dugout, and his removal may have been precautionary due to the 9-2 lead that Team USA had at the time. If Team USA advances to the World Baseball Classic final, it's unclear whether Arenado will be available.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mets outfielder DJ Stewart hits for cycle in 8-7 loss against Cardinals Outfielder DJ Stewart went 4- for-4 with four RBI, hitting for the cycle in Sunday’ s 8-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Field. T...

MARCH 20, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Hudson may be falling back in race for rotation spot PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- So intense is the roster crunch the Cardinals face in the final weeks of Spring Training that when asked recently ho...

MARCH 19, 2023 • MLB.COM

Génesis Cabrera - Doing fine in spring Cabrera has allowed two earned runs on six hits while striking out four and issuing no walks over four innings across four Grapefruit League appearances.

Impact Cabrera also logged 1.1 scoreless innings for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The southpaw had an up-and-down 2022 with a 4.63 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 44.2 innings, but he still managed to pick up 13 holds. He's likely to make the Cardinals out of camp as a lefty reliever with experience in mid-to-high-leverage usage.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor Motter - Candidate to making opening roster Motter is a candidate to make the Opening Day roster for the Cardinals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Motter was signed to a minor-league contract in November, and the 33-year-old has impressed in the Grapefruit League with an .810 OPS, three homers and a pair of steals over 17 games. He's also capable of playing in the infield and outfield, so he brings versatility at the end of the St. Louis bench if he does make the roster. Motter will need to be added to the 40-man roster in order to be called up to the Cardinals, but he has at least earned a look from his play in Florida.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pepper-grinder move unwelcome in Japan high school tourney

Lars Nootbaar’s imaginary pepper-grinder was the talk of World Baseball Classic games in Japan, but the fun-loving gesture by the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder does not appear wel...

MARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Adam Wainwright - Starting against Cuba on Sunday Wainwright will start Sunday's semifinal game for Team USA against Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Impact Wainwright started the first game of the WBC for Team USA against Great Britain, and allowed one run over his four innings of work. A victory for USA would see the team advance to the finals of the tournament for the second straight appearance, with the winner facing the victor of the semifinal game between Mexico and Japan.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Turner's grand slam lifts US over Venezuela, into WBC semis

Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning that lifted the United States over Venezuela 9-7 and into the World Baseball Classic semifinals

MARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Matthew Liberatore - Impresses over five Liberatore allowed one run in five innings Saturday in a Grapefruit League start against the Tigers.

Impact Liberatore struck out six against one walk, and he allowed just three hits in the impressive effort. "That's the best I've ever seen him, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol told reporters after the outing. "Not even close." The only run allowed by Liberatore came on a solo home run by Spencer Torkelson. The southpaw is currently battling for one of the final spots in the St. Louis rotation, and another effort like this will give Marmol a difficult decision at least.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Giovanny Gallegos - Picks up save vs. Puerto Rico Gallegos allowed two hits, but he was able to fire a scoreless inning Friday to pick up a save in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico against Puerto Rico.

Impact Gallegos threw 11 of 17 pitches for strikes, and he was able to fan Enrique Hernandez to get out of trouble. The right-hander is saving games for Team Mexico, but he is expected to operate in a setup role for the Cardinals in the regular season.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Hicks - Mixed results so far Hicks has allowed four earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings over six Grapefruit League appearances.

Impact Hicks' strikeout potential remains enticing, but the overall results are not where they need to be to feel confident about his ability to fill a high-leverage role. With experience as a starter, there's always the option to stretch Hicks out for long-relief duties, but the right-hander has also had success in the past as a reliever. He's little more than a late-draft dart throw in fantasy given his skill set.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nolan Gorman - Hitting well Gorman went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Marlins.

Impact Gorman has benefited from the Cardinals having a number of players away at the World Baseball Classic. He's hit .324 (11-for-34) with nine RBI, six runs scored and a 6:12 BB:K through 13 Grapefruit League games. Gorman may not have a consistent everyday position, but Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Disptatch reports Gorman will back up Nolan Arenado at third base in addition to being an option at second base and designated hitter this season. Gorman came up through the minors as a third baseman before switching to the keystone, but with utility man Brendan Donovan around, Gorman likely won't need to move around as much.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE