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Cardinals Plan to Activate Masyn Winn on Saturday
The St. Louis Cardinals plan on activating shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb) ahead of their game on Saturday at Colorado. The 24-year-old has missed almost two weeks of action because of a small fracture in his thumb, but was able to take live batting practice on Friday alongside his teammates. The plan is for him to be back in the lineup on Saturday, but the team will want to see how his thumb has recovered following the progress that he made a day earlier. Winn has had a disappointing season, as he has slashed a pedestrian .238/.314/.326 slash line. Both he and the Cardinals will be looking to salvage whatever time they have left in this season and possibly use it as a building block for next season.
Source: Derrick Goold - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Source: Derrick Goold - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Masyn Winn Could Return as Early as Friday
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb) could return from the 10-day injured list as early as Friday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, and the Cardinals expect him to return during the three-game series at Coors Field this weekend, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis wanted Winn to go through another round of workouts and batting in the cage before they cleared him to return to the major-league lineup following a left-thumb fracture. The 24-year-old will be returning to a weak .238/.314/.326 slash line with a .641 OPS, only five home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 49 runs scored across his 432 at-bats in 2026, so fantasy managers should not expect him to be a difference-maker down the stretch in September. In 20 games in August before his thumb injury, Winn had gone just 14-for-65 (.215) with a .642 OPS, one homer, six doubles, seven RBI, eight runs scored, and two stolen bases across 73 plate appearances. When activated, Winn should return to his regular duties as St. Louis' starting shortstop.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
JJ Wetherholt Receives Cortisone Injection in his Wrist
St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) received a cortisone injection on Tuesday for his right-wrist tendinitis, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. After some rest, Wetherholt will attempt to resume baseball activities as he tries to make it back for the conclusion of what has been a very strong first year in the big leagues in 2026. Right now, it is unclear if he has a realistic chance of being ready to return to the major-league roster when he is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Sept. 9. In his first full season with the Cardinals, the former seventh overall pick from West Virginia in 2024 has hit .242/.343/.370 with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored across 130 games and 586 plate appearances. The left-handed-hitting infielder has struggled in the second half, though, perhaps while battling his wrist injury, and has slashed just .201/.313/.305 with a .618 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, four doubles, 30 runs scored, five steals, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games played. Despite being on the IL and struggling in the second half, Wetherholt is rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
JJ Wetherholt to Meet With a Specialist This Week
St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist), who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with right-wrist discomfort, will meet with a specialist to have his wrist examined in Arizona early this week, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder has been bothered by wrist issues for the last month, which helps explain why he hit .200 (19-for-95) with a .595 OPS, one homer, four doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases, 15 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games in August. Since the All-Star break, Wetherholt has hit just .201 (31-for-154) with a .618 OPS, four home runs, four doubles, 12 RBI, 30 runs scored, five steals, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games. The former first-rounder from West Virginia University hit .259/.356/.399 with a .755 OPS, 13 homers, 36 RBI, 58 runs, and nine stolen bases in 90 games in the first half of his first MLB season. Fantasy managers now have to be concerned that Wetherholt might not make it back for the final month of the regular season in September.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Cardinals to Promote No. 7 Prospect Leo Bernal to Majors
The St. Louis Cardinals are promoting catching prospect Leo Bernal to the majors, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. The 22-year-old originally signed with the Cardinals as an international free agent out of Panama in 2021. Up until this point, he had spent the entire season in Triple-A, slashing .279/.364/.469 with 16 home runs, 77 RBI, nine steals, an 11.8% walk rate, a 20.0% strikeout rate, and 116 wRC+ across 100 games. Bernal is a switch-hitter and has made impressive strides from a platoon standpoint this year. Specifically, he improved upon his ability to hit right-handed pitching, bringing his OPS against righties up from .668 to .846 this year. He's also been solid on defense, throwing out 27.4% of base stealers. Bernal should have a chance to carve out significant playing time right away, as both of the Cardinals' active catchers have a sub-.600 OPS.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Cardinals Place JJ Wetherholt on Injured List With Wrist Tendinitis
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Sunday that they placed rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) on the 10-day injured list with right-wrist tendinitis and recalled infielder Cesar Prieto from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. It is the first time that Wetherholt will head to the IL while battling wrist issues of late. In his first year in the big leagues in 2026 with the Cards, Wetherholt has slashed .242/.343/.370 with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored across 130 games and 586 plate appearances. His wrist might have been bothering him for a while, though, as he has hit just .200 (19-for-95) with a .595 OPS, one homer, four doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases, 15 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games in August. Wetherholt has also hit just over the Mendoza Line (.201) with just four homers, four doubles, 12 RBI, five steals, 30 runs scored, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games in the second half. Perhaps a little break is what is needed so that he can finish his first MLB season strong in September. It is unclear if Wetherholt will be ready to return when his 10 days on the IL are up. He is currently rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Joshua Baez's Power Upside Makes him a Waiver-Wire Target
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez turned heads with a record-setting major-league debut on Aug. 15 against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, going 3-for-4 at the plate with three home runs and five RBI. But since that day, he has gone 4-for-41 (.098) with a homer, a double, four RBI, three runs scored, two stolen bases, three walks, and 20 strikeouts in 12 games for the Red Birds. St. Louis' No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, should still be on the waiver-wire radar in fantasy baseball leagues, though, for his power/speed upside to close out the 2026 season. The 23-year-old former second-rounder hit .256/.328/.573 with a .901 OPS, 34 home runs, 90 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 79 runs scored in his 103 games at Triple-A Memphis this year before his call-up. Baez can struggle to make contact at times, but his power/speed upside should not be ignored for fantasy managers looking for power production in the outfield to close things out. It has been far from perfect early on, but Baez is still the Cardinals' right fielder of the future.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Rainiel Rodriguez Surging at Double-A Springfield
St. Louis Cardinals catcher prospect Rainiel Rodriguez took some time settling in at Double-A Springfield after his promotion in early May, hitting just .182 with two extra-base hits over his first 21 games there. However, since then, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect has caught fire, hitting .368 with 20 doubles and 18 home runs in just 53 games, good for a 1.134 OPS during that time. That type of production is impressive on its own merit, but the right-handed hitter is doing all of this as one of the youngest players in Double-A at age 19. The youngster is in position to begin 2027 at Triple-A and has a shot to debut next year despite his age, though it is crowded at catcher in St. Louis with Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages, and fellow catching prospect Leo Bernal, so it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Rodriguez (and Bernal, for that matter) has played some first base this year, and with his power potential, designated hitter is always an option as well, which gives him multiple paths to the majors. The 5-foot-10 Dominican should be on redraft managers' radar in 2027, and his dynasty arrow is pointing way up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cardinals Placing Masyn Winn on Injured List With Thumb Fracture
The St. Louis Cardinals are placing shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a thumb injury that he suffered last Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In a corresponding move, the team is calling up infielder Nolan Gorman from Triple-A Memphis before the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles, according to a source. With Winn out, JJ Wetherholt will man the 6 in St. Louis. We should have a better idea of how much time the 24-year-old Winn might miss after the results of his MRI exam and CT scan come back, but he will be out until at least the start of September when rosters expand. Winn has been a disappointment in 2026 in his third full year in the majors, slashing a weak .238/.314/.326 with a .641 OPS, only five home runs, 51 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 122 games and 490 plate appearances. As a result, he is rostered in just 32% of Yahoo leagues now. UPDATE: Winn is out with a fractured left thumb, but the Cardinals don't expect him to miss extended time, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Joshua Baez Still Worth Rostering for Power/Speed Profile
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez hit three home runs in his major-league debut against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Aug. 15, but since then, he has gone 2-for-32 (.063) at the plate with a homer, four RBI, two runs scored, two steals, three walks, and 14 strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-handed slugger is hitting .139 (5-for-36) in his first 10 MLB games, with four of his five hits clearing the fences. The Cardinals' No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has struggled to make contact so far at the major-league level, but his power/speed upside continues to make him roster-worthy in most fantasy baseball leagues, and he's only rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues right now. Before getting called up earlier this month, Baez was slashing .256/.328/.573 with a .901 OPS, 34 home runs, 90 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 79 runs scored in 103 games and 461 plate appearances at Triple-A Memphis. The former second-rounder in 2021 is not going to help much with average and on-base percentage to finish out his first year in the majors, but his power and speed can still be useful.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Hunter Dobbins Exits Early with Forearm Tightness
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins (forearm) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's start against the Philadelphia Phillies. According to Derrick Goold, Dobbins left this game early due to right forearm tightness. Dobbins was pulled after throwing one pitch in the fifth inning. His day finishes with three earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters across four innings of work. The Cardinals haven't said whether or not Dobbins will require a trip to the Injured List. Brycen Mautz could get a shot in the rotation if Dobbins does miss time. Fantasy managers will need to check back over the weekend for another update on his status.
Source: Derrick Goold
Source: Derrick Goold
Kyle Leahy Emerging as a Must-Roster Starting Pitcher
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Leahy notched his 10th win of 2026 on Tuesday, throwing five scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his team's 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Across 122 1/3 innings (24 starts) this season, the 29-year-old has recorded a 10-4 record with a 3.24 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 111 strikeouts. Leahy has been particularly hot of late, as he's logged wins in each of his last three outings and has not allowed more than two earned runs in a start since June 17. The right-hander generates a lot of ground balls, which can lead to a higher batting average on balls in play and an elevated WHIP. However, he's difficult to barrel up (0.88 HR/9) and has allowed a solid 6.8% walk rate. In his last 36 innings pitched, Leahy has walked just two batters. Particularly given his pitcher-friendly home environment in St. Louis, Leahy should be viewed as a priority waiver wire candidate in any league where he remains available.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pitching Prospect Quinn Mathews to Start Game 1 of Doubleheader
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reports that St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews will be called up from Triple-A Memphis to start Game 1 of the team's doubleheader on Monday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Right-hander Andre Pallante will get the nod for Game 2 for the Cards. Mathews, the team's No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was called up on Aug. 1 to make his major-league debut and allowed two earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on the road. The 25-year-old southpaw and former fourth-rounder from Stanford University has gone 5-4 this year with a 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 120:61 K:BB in 99 innings and 21 starts for Memphis. Mathews will face a Reds squad that ranks 24th in the league in team OPS, but the young lefty could be sent right back down to Memphis following his second major-league start. In the long-term at the MLB level, Mathews projects as more of a back-end starter in St. Louis than an ace.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Quinn Mathews Looking for Path Back to Major-League Rotation
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews got one start for St. Louis this season before being called back down to Triple-A Memphis. In two starts back with Memphis, Mathews has allowed four earned runs in seven innings pitched with nine combined strikeouts in the two starts. In his lone big-league start, Mathews took a hard-luck loss to the Toronto Blue Jays with two earned runs in five innings pitched. Mathews has looked sharp all year long in the minors for Memphis and the left-hander is the No. 8 prospect for St. Louis with a 60-grade slider and changeup in his four-pitch mix. The Cardinals rotation is very young so Mathews will look for another shot at the MLB level. He is worth holding onto in redraft leagues because he does have good strikeout potential with a strong four-pitch arsenal.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Joshua Baez Blasts Three Home Runs in Historic Debut
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez made history during his big league debut against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Baez did something no other MLB player has done before, which is homer in his first three plate appearances. He took the first pitch he saw as a big leaguer deep to center field for a solo homer off Matthew Boyd. He continued his success off Boyd with another long ball in the fourth inning. Baez came up for his third plate appearance in the sixth inning and blasted a ball over the right field wall. Overall, Baez went 3-for-4 with three homers and five RBI in his debut. The power and speed potential make Baez worth snagging in all fantasy formats right now after his incredible MLB debut.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
