Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar just joined Japan's national team for the World Baseball Classic but he is already a big fan of Shohei OhtaniMARCH 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 83-79 · 2ND IN NL CENTRAL
83-79 · 2ND IN NL CENTRAL
BenFred: Dylan Carlson's best defense must be impact offense in Cardinals' outfield battle As Jordan Walker turns up the heat on the Cardinals' outfield competition, Dylan Carlson gave Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol something to t...
MARCH 8, 2023 • STLTODAY.COM
First impressions of Cubs' new catching setup without Willson Contreras The Cubs-Cardinals rivalry will have a new, unpredictable element for Major League Baseball's London Series in June.
MARCH 8, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Tres Barrera - Chance to win backup job Barrera has made a strong impression in spring camp, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Cardinals manager Oli Marmol has made it clear that the job behind starting backstop Willson Contreras is "wide open," and Barrera has a strong chance to win that position. The backstop signed on with St. Louis as a non-roster invite, and has posted just a .631 OPS so far over 162 plate appearances at the major-league level. Andrew Knizner also is battling for the backup gig, but this appears to be a competition that could go down to the final days of spring training.
MARCH 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Matthew Boyd strikes out 7 in 3 innings in Detroit Tigers' 16-3 win over Cardinals Matthew Boyd got the Detroit Tigers started strong with seven strikeouts over three innings in a 16-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals o...
MARCH 7, 2023 • FREEP.COM
Adam Wainwright to start Game 1 for Team USA in WBC
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will start for Team USA in its opening WBC matchup against Team Great Britain on Saturday.MARCH 7, 2023
Adam Wainwright - To start WBC opener for USA Wainwright will start for Team USA in their World Baseball Classic opener Saturday against Team Great Britain, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Impact This could wind up being an interesting test for the 41-year-old right-hander after he struggled to even reach 87 mph with his fastball during his two Grapefruit League starts for the Cardinals. Wainwright blamed the lack of velocity on some minor muscle issues in his lower back and upper legs. He registered a 3.71 ERA and 143:54 K:BB across 191.2 regular-season innings for St. Louis in 2022.
MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Drew VerHagen - Solid pitching so far VerHagen has allowed a walk and struck out two over two Grapefruit League innings.
Impact Katie Woo of The Athletic reports VerHagen mixed his new four-seam fastball in with his usual sinker and slider. A hip injury ended the right-hander's season early in 2022, and his 6.65 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB over 21.2 relief innings weren't great marks when he was healthy. He remains in the mix as a multi-inning relief option who could also serve as a spot starter, though the Cardinals' rotation has enough depth to weather an injury or two before they'd need to turn to someone like VerHagen.
MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Walker's Redbird rise creates a logjam at several positions. What players are impacted? There’s time for Walker to slow down of his own accord. There’s time for a seeming logjam to resolve itself through injury or transaction, a...
MARCH 7, 2023 • BND.COM
Andrew Knizner - Not assured of backup job Cardinals manager Oli Marmol noted Tuesday that Knizner is not assured of the team's backup catcher role, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Knizner served as the primary understudy to Yadier Molina over the last two seasons, but he holds just a .204/.292/.288 career batting line in 553 plate appearances at the major-league level. Tres Barrera has impressed the Cardinals' coaches and pitchers this spring, per Denton, and might emerge as the No. 2 option behind Willson Contreras.
MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Detroit Free Press Right-handed reliever Trevor Rosenthal, an All-Star in 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals, officially signed with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
MARCH 7, 2023 • FREEP.COM
Dylan Carlson - Could return to field this week Carlson (arm) could return to playing the outfield this week, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Impact Carlson has been limited to designated hitter duty -- he homered from the DH spot Monday -- as he works his way back from arm fatigue but is almost ready to play the outfield again. The 24-year-old is competing for playing time in the Cards' outfield and is surely eager to make up for lost time with Jordan Walker already creating some buzz with his strong early showing.
MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Steven Matz - Feeling strong this spring Matz said after throwing three perfect innings against the Astros on Monday that "I feel the strongest I ever have in my career," Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports...
Impact Matz struck out four while needing just 39 pitches to navigate through his three perfect frames. He touched 95 mph with his sinker, which is more velocity than he typically shows at this point in camp. Matz is looking to bounce back from a disappointing first season in St. Louis which saw him limited to just 48 innings due to injuries.
MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Healthy Flaherty, Matz's crisp outings inspire confidence JUPITER, Fla. -- Weeks ago, when the Cardinals met prior to their first official Spring Training workout, chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., presiden...
MARCH 7, 2023 • MLB.COM
Paul DeJong - Playing shortstop Tuesday DeJong, who has been dealing with fatigue in his right arm, will be back at shortstop on Tuesday for a Grapefruit League contest against the Tigers, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact DeJong has been limited to designated hitter as of late while dealing with the fatigue, but he's been cleared to return to the infield. The 29-year-old is attempting to win a utility role with St. Louis to begin the 2023 season with Tommy Edman expected to get most of the reps at shortstop this season.
MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jordan Walker - Hot start to spring training Walker is hitting .429 with three home runs, three doubles, four strikeouts and zero walks in 21 Grapefruit League at-bats.
Impact He had a massive game Saturday against the Nationals, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and a double. His first home run that day went 470 feet and the second bomb was a 450-footer, although the wind was blowing out. Despite this hot start, there's some role/destination uncertainty for Walker to start the season. Tyler O'Neill, Lars Nootbaar and Dylan Carlson will all make the club, so St. Louis will either need to name one of these four outfielders or Juan Yepez to a reserve role or Walker could be sent to Triple-A to start the season.
MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jack Flaherty - Set to start Monday Flaherty (calf/illness) has been cleared to start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Flaherty is expected to cover around three innings or 45-to-50 pitches before giving way to southpaw Steven Matz, who is likely to handle a similar workload in relief. A bout with calf discomfort and then flu-like symptoms resulted in Flaherty's spring debut being pushed back a few days, but the 27-year-old right-hander looks well on his way to being ready to go for Opening Day.
MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Andre Pallante - Decent early in spring Pallante has allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three over two innings in Grapefruit League play.
Impact Katie Woo of The Athletic reports manager Oliver Marmol was pleased with Pallante's uptick in velocity in his second appearance. Pallante will pitch for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, and continued strong showings there should solidify his already favorable position as part of the setup mix in the Cardinals' bullpen. He pitched to a 3.17 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 73:40 K:BB across 108 innings, making 10 of his 47 appearances as a starter in 2022.
MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jack Flaherty - Not pitching Sunday Flaherty (illness/calf) will not pitch Sunday against the Mets, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Flaherty has been battling flu-like symptoms and some muscle irritation in his left calf, so the Cardinals will again delay his Grapefruit League debut -- now to Monday. The hope is that these are minor issues, but the 27-year-old right-hander might soon fall behind. He logged only 36 innings (eight starts, one relief appearance) at the MLB level in 2022 because of shoulder trouble.
MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Paul Goldschmidt - Included in Sunday's lineup Goldschmidt (personal) is in the lineup for Sunday's exhibition contest.
Impact Goldschmidt took a couple days to tend to a family matter, but he is back with St. Louis, and he will play first base and hit third for the Cardinals on Sunday.
MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Guillermo Zuniga - Sent to Triple-A Zuniga was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Zuniga signed an MLB contract in December, but has options remaining, so the right-hander will open the season in the International League rather than with the Cards. He could be a bullpen option for St. Louis at some point in 2023.
MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Freddy Pacheco - Optioned to Triple-A Pacheco (elbow) was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Pacheco has been slowed by arm trouble in the Grapefruit League, but was always unlikely to make the Cardinals' roster to open the season anyway. He'll provide depth for the St. Louis pitching staff in Triple-A.
MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dylan Carlson - No throwing until Monday Carlson (arm) is okay to hit but won't throw again until Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Carlson's arm fatigue appears to be a minor issue, but the Cardinals won't rush anything with the outfielder in spring games. He may serve as a designated hitter for a couple of games before returning to the field later next week.
MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jack Flaherty - Not certain for Sunday Flaherty is dealing with calf discomfort and flu-like symptoms, which may prevent him from pitching Sunday versus the Mets, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Flaherty was initially scratched from Saturday's start versus the Nationals, and it's now possible he's pushed back again. The calf discomfort is the bigger concern here, as it's unclear how long it might keep him off the mound. He has logged time in simulated games this spring, but he has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut. Denton adds that it's believed to be a minor issue, but given Flaherty's lengthy injury history, the Cardinals will likely approach this situation with caution.
MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Johnny Cueto managed by Skip Schumaker on Florida Marlins, 13 years after brawl with St. Louis Cardinals Skip Schumaker was a Cardinals player 13 years ago when a brawl broke out and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto kicked St. Louis backup c...
MARCH 4, 2023 • SUN-SENTINEL.COM
