ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NEWS

Chris Stratton - 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

Paul DeJong - Scratched due to back tightness DeJong is being evaluated for lower-back tightness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact That's the reason for his late removal from the Cardinals' Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday. DeJong is considered day-to-day for now. Masyn Winn will start at shortstop and bat eighth against the Astros.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Paul DeJong - Scratched from lineup Tuesday DeJong was scratched from the Cardinals' Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against the Astros.

Impact No reason has been given yet, though it's notable that DeJong had some trouble with arm fatigue at the start of Grapefruit League play. Top prospect Masyn Winn is in at shortstop and batting eighth Tuesday.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Walker - Returns to action Tuesday Walker (shoulder) is starting in left field and batting third in Tuesday's spring game against the Astros, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 20-year-old will end up missing only a couple games after he exited Saturday's Grapefruit League contest with a strained right shoulder, which appears to confirm the early indications that the injury isn't a serious concern. Walker is pushing for spot on the Opening Day roster, but it may not be long before the top prospect makes his MLB debut even if he begins the campaign in the minors.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Progress report: St. Louis Cardinals Sizing up the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2023 season

MARCH 14, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

World Baseball Classic highlights: United States routs Canada, 12-1

The 2023 World Baseball Classic continues Monday with the U.S. facing Canada in Pool C group play. Here are the top plays!

MARCH 14, 2023

Miles Mikolas - Will piggyback with Lynn vs. Canada Mikolas will pitch in relief Monday against Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Mikolas was scheduled to start Wednesday against Colombia, but instead that honor will go to Merrill Kelly. The right-hander will instead piggyback with Lance Lynn against Canada in a game the United States realistically must win in order to stay alive in the tournament.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Settling in with new team Contreras is hitting .250 with one double, one RBI and six strikeouts over six Grapefruit League games.

Impact Contreras stayed in camp rather than going to the World Baseball Classic to get to know the pitcher on his new team. The catcher signed a five-year deal in December to become the Cardinals' new No. 1 backstop after the retirement of Yadier Molina. Contreras won't enjoy the friendly confines of Wrigley Field as often as he used to, but he's a four-time 20-homer hitter and should continue to return solid numbers at a position where those are scarce.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wilking Rodriguez - Pitching well in spring Rodriguez has allowed one earned run, three hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings across five Grapefruit League appearances.

Impact The Cardinals scooped up Rodriguez in the Rule 5 draft this fall, and his work early in spring training is giving him a shot of sticking in the majors. His only other experience in the majors was in 2014 with the Royals, and he logged just two innings. He spent most of the time between 2015 and 2022 in foreign leagues before signing with the Yankees last August. The 33-year-old right-hander will probably be a low-leverage reliever if he breaks camp with the Cardinals.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Winn-ing: Cards prospect puts on spring show JUPITER, Fla. -- At 6-foot 5, 220 pounds, superstar slugger Jordan Walker can cast quite the shadow -- one large enough to even throw shade...

MARCH 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

Calculating a crowded Cards outfield This story was excerpted from John Denton’s Cardinals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regu...

MARCH 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

Packy Naughton - Mixed results in spring Naughton has allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings through five Grapefruit League appearances.

Impact Naughton was on and off the Cardinals' major-league roster for much of 2022, posting a 4.78 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB across 32 innings. He started three of his six appearances, but his path to staying in the majors this season is in the bullpen since the Cardinals have a surplus of potential starters. Naughton remains unlikely to challenge for a high-leverage role, so he won't be a factor in most fantasy formats.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Walker - Planning to hit Sunday Walker said his strained right shoulder is "no big deal" and plans to take batting practice in the cage Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 20-year-old suffered the injury on a head-first slide into second base Saturday, but he won't require an MRI and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Walker won't play Sunday but is expected to be back in the lineup for St. Louis on Tuesday after the club's scheduled day off Monday, per Denton.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Meneses homers twice, Mexico clobbers US 11-5 in WBC

Joey Meneses hit two homers, including a crucial three-run shot in the fourth inning, to lead Mexico in a lopsided win over the United States 11-5 in the World Baseball Classic on...

MARCH 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Katie Woo: The Cardinals optioned RHP Jake Walsh and INF... - The Athletic The Cardinals optioned RHP Jake Walsh and INF José Fermín to Triple A Memphis after Saturday's game. Highly-regarded pitching prospects Gord...

MARCH 11, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets 1st hits for Padres since 2021

A hit is a hit, even if it’s only spring training

MARCH 11, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jake Walsh - Sent to Triple-A Memphis Walsh was optioned Saturday to Triple-A Memphis by the Cardinals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Walsh made only three appearances for the Cardinals last year while allowing four runs in 2.2 innings of work for a 13.50 ERA. He'll likely be an up-and-down arm for St. Louis, providing more organizational depth than any chance for fantasy significance in 2023.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Michael McGreevy - Sent down to minors camp McGreevy was reassigned Saturday to minor-league camp by the Cardinals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact McGreevy was the Cardinals' first-round pick in 2021, and the 22-year-old wasn't a serious contender to open the year with St. Louis. The right-hander advanced to Double-A last season, however, and he has a chance to make his MLB debut before 2023 comes to a close.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gordon Graceffo - Reassigned to minors camp Graceffo was reassigned Saturday to minor-league camp by the Cardinals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Graceffo is one of the top pitching prospects in the St. Louis system, but was never a serious candidate to make the rotation to open the season. The right-hander will begin the year in the upper levels of the minors, and if he comes close to replicating his numbers of 2022 -- 2.97 ERA, 139:28 K:BB ratio over 139.1 innings of work -- he could make his big-league debut this summer.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Woo: 3 things I'm looking for as Cardinals ramp up spring training Brendan Donovan's versatility and Jack Flaherty's progress bear watching as the Cardinals' roster takes shape.

MARCH 11, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Jordan Walker - Day-to-day with strained shoulder Walker was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain Saturday but is considered day-to-day for now, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Walker suffered the injury on a head-first slide into second base in Saturday's game against the Astros. A shoulder strain certainly isn't a good thing for the young slugger, but the fact that he's considered day-to-day means he presumably still has a chance to push for an Opening Day roster spot. An updated timeline could emerge after Walker is re-evaluated Sunday, however, so he's not out of the woods yet.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE