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Quinn Mathews a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Ahead of Saturday Debut
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is a priority target on the waiver wire ahead of his MLB debut on Saturday. Mathews is currently viewed as the team's No. 6 prospect on MLB.com and is outside the current top-100 rankings on MLB Pipeline. However, the southpaw has enjoyed a dominant stretch at Triple-A, which prompted the promotion. Over his last 56 1/3 innings at the top club (since May 28), the southpaw has been near-perfect, posting a 1.60 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, with a 67:22 K:BB. Before this noted stretch, Mathews struggled against the top hitters of the minor leagues, carrying a hefty 5.55 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP across 35 2/3 innings of work. While it is still unknown if he will remain with the major-league club for the long-term, his recent Triple-A production makes him a worthy target in all standard leagues ahead of his debut.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cardinals Top Prospect Quinn Mathews to Make MLB Debut on Saturday
St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews will be called up from Triple-A Memphis to make his major-league debut and start on Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 25-year-old 6-foot-5, 188-pounder should immediately be in play as a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in all league formats as the Cardinals' No. 7 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The former fourth-round pick in 2023 from Stanford University is getting the call to the Show after going 5-3 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 111:52 K:BB in 92 innings across 19 starts at Memphis this year. Mathews has been particularly effective since June, posting a sharp 1.55 ERA in his 52 1/3 innings. He features a fastball, sinker, slider, and a changeup, and he'll occasionally mix in a curveball for good measure. Mathews has plenty of strikeout upside with an 11.5 K/9 in his three minor-league seasons, but mechanical issues have hurt his command/control at times. He could have a strong MLB debut this weekend against a Blue Jays offense with the second-worst OPS (.684) in all of baseball in 2026.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Quinn Mathews Deals Gem in Latest Triple-A Start
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is coming off a superb start at Triple-A Memphis in which he hurled seven shutout innings with three hits and an unearned run with 10 strikeouts against three walks. Mathews picked up a win for his efforts, moving his overall record this season to 5-3. The left-hander has spent the entire season at Memphis, compiling a 3.13 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 111 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched. In four July starts, Mathews has racked up a 1.04 ERA and 0.77 WHIP as he has raised the level of his game as the summer months have heated up. The No. 7 prospect on the Cardinals' list, Mathews boasts a 60-grade changeup and a 55-grade slider. After four years at Stanford, the 25-year-old is nearing big league ready and it would be wise to add him now before a potential late-season promotion.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Rainiel Rodriguez Defying Youth With Production at Double-A
St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez had another multi-hit game on Wednesday night and is hitting .303 in Double-A Springfield during July. In 76 July at-bats, Rodriguez has five homers and 13 RBI with 10 runs scored while hitting north of .300. At 19 years old, the right-handed-hitting catcher is the top prospect in the Cardinals' system, making him enticing as a stash candidate even for this year. However, St. Louis is loaded at catcher at the big league level with Ivan Herrera, Jimmy Crooks, and Pedro Pages. Being that Rodriguez is just 19 years old, the Cardinals could choose to wait on a big-league debut for him, especially with the vast experience they already have in St. Louis at the position. Rodriguez looks like a dynamite dynasty league option, but in a redraft league it might be wise to regroup at the position next season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Riley O'Brien Unavailable Sunday Due to Illness
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien (illness) was unavailable for Sunday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds. George Soriano instead worked the ninth inning of a 2-2 game, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless frame. Matt Svanson entered in the 10th and was charged with three runs, two earned, on two hits while recording one out as Cincinnati pulled ahead for good. O'Brien should be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs. He remains St. Louis' primary closer after recording his 26th save Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. The Cardinals are also without JoJo Romero, who is on the 15-day injured list following an emergency appendectomy. If O'Brien remains unavailable, Soriano or Ryne Stanek could receive the next save opportunity.
Source: Roundtable
Source: Roundtable
Joshua Baez Continuing to Mash at Triple-A Memphis
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez has surpassed the 30 homer plateau this year at Triple-A Memphis as he continues to make a case for promotion to the big league club. Baez now has 31 homers and 77 RBIs in 360 at bats while hitting .244 with 69 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. The overall numbers for the former second-round pick are outstanding and now might be the time to stash the right-handed power hitter. In his past two games, Baez has hit homers, making it now or never to make a waiver wire move on the minor-league stud. The batting average in July is only .167 for Baez, but the power numbers have more than made up for it. The Cardinals could use a power boost and Baez can easily provide that given the call. He will have to improve the overall hitting but the power will play at the next level.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Liam Doyle Extends Impressive Run as Triple-A Promotion Approaches
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitching prospect Liam Doyle extended his recent surge at Double-A on Saturday and is putting himself in serious consideration for a Triple-A call-up. On Friday, Doyle logged five shutout frames with just two hits and a 4:3 K:BB. Over his last 18 2/3 innings of work (four starts), the former No. 5 overall pick has posted a sharp 1.93 ERA but carries a modest 1.45 WHIP due to his shaky command. However, prior to this, Doyle posted a much-higher 6.08 ERA with a 1.61 WHIP over his first 47 1/3 innings of work at the Double-A level. While a late-season MLB debut appears quite unlikely, Doyle has put himself in contention to earn a late-season taste of Triple-A. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor the former Tennessee standout, as he should be well-positioned to spend most of 2027 in the big leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Scott Blewett Gets Dealt to the Athletics
The St. Louis Cardinals traded right-handed pitcher Scott Blewett to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations on Sunday. Blewett threw two scoreless innings during his team debut on Tuesday and was designated for assignment on Wednesday. The Cardinals only called him up because he was out of options, so he was never expected to stick on the roster. The 30-year-old owns a 4.10 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a 63/34 K/BB ratio across 44 games across five big league seasons. He figures to pitch in low-leverage situations for the A's, so fantasy managers can continue to ignore him.
Source: A's PR
Source: A's PR
Quinn Mathews Making Case for MLB Debut Following 10-Strikeout Effort
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews turned in another stellar effort at Triple-A on Friday evening and is on the verge of reaching the major leagues. Facing Triple-A Durham, the southpaw struck out an impressive 10 hitters over seven innings of three-hit ball. He walked only three batters and allowed one unearned run. Since May 28, the Stanford product has been among the most dominant pitchers at the top level in the minors and is making a strong case to join the Cardinals. During these noted 56 1/3 innings, the left-hander has posted a sharp 1.60 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP while holding a 67:22 K:BB. While there may not be a clear opening for the left-hander, his recent surge makes him a top prospect to stash among pitchers, as his debut could occur in early August.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
July Skid Puts MLB Debut in Question for Joshua Baez
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has endured a tough skid in July, which has delayed his eventual MLB debut. Since the start of the month, the young slugger in the St. Louis system has carried a modest .138/.239/.328 line. During this 15-game stretch, he has not shown his typical high-end power potential, hitting only three home runs, including a grand slam on July 17 and a two-home run effort on July 2. On the season, Baez has hit 29 home runs and even swiped 15 bags while holding a .241/.313/.551 line with a .864 OPS. While this stretch at the plate likely delayed an immediate promotion, his high-end five-category promotion keeps him at the top of most stash boards ahead of Week 18. He would immediately emerge as a must-start option for fantasy as soon as he earns the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tai Peete Red-Hot in Return to High-A Peoria
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Tai Peete is on fire since returning to High-A Peoria with two homers and six RBI in four games back from injury. Peete was recovering from a concussion and has done so nicely. He has played three games on a rehab assignment with the FCL Cardinals but has spent the rest of the season at Peoria. With Peoria, Peete has racked up seven homers and 30 RBI to go with 28 runs scored while hitting .281. At age 20, Peete checks in at No. 17 on the Cardinals' top prospects list. He received a 55-grade power and 60-grade run tool, so he has the potential for fantasy production. He might need some time to progress through the minors, though, at such a young age. A dynasty prospect for sure, it is worth monitoring Peete's progress in the minors, and he could see time in St. Louis in a year or two.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Quinn Mathews a Stash-Worthy Pitcher for Second Half
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews appears to be on the precipice of a major league debut after a strong season at Triple-A Memphis. The southpaw has been rolling as of late, allowing two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, but for the most part, he's been pitching well all year. Take away his worst three starts of the year, the Cards' sixth-ranked prospect owns a 1.89 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in the other 15 starts. Not to mention 101 strikeouts in 85 total innings pitched are also very usable for fantasy. Opponents are batting .171 off of him on the year, so if he can translate some of that success to the majors, he could be a productive pitcher for fantasy over the final two months of the season. Look for the 25-year-old to debut in the coming weeks, and managers in deeper 12-team leagues should consider stashing him in an NA spot ahead of time.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Masyn Winn's Everyday Role Keeps Him in the 12-Team Mix
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn has not supplied much power, but the everyday role keeps him in the 12-team conversation. He is batting .241 with four home runs, 42 RBI, 39 runs, and eight steals across 328 at-bats. Winn has started all four games since the All-Star break, each at shortstop and in the No. 6 spot. Monday was quiet, an 0-for-3 night with one strikeout in a 3-2 loss to the Angels. That is not really the point here. Winn plays, puts the ball in play often enough, and can steal a base. Not exciting. Still useful. His Yahoo roster rate remains at 34%, while RotoBaller lists him as an add in 12-team and deeper leagues. Winn is a low-ceiling middle infielder, but he can cover a roster hole without being a zero across the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinn Mathews Closing in on MLB Debut After Latest Outing
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews continued to impress in his latest start at Triple-A over the weekend, allowing just one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings pitched. It was the eighth time in his last nine starts that the southpaw yielded two earned runs or fewer, pitching to a 1.82 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 20.7 K-BB% over that stretch. For the season, the Cards' sixth-ranked prospect owns a 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 15.0 percent K-BB% in 18 starts, but this recent nine-game stretch could give the team plenty of confidence in giving the 6-foot-5 hurler his long-awaited shot in the majors. The 25-year-old has plenty of strikeout potential, so if he can just limit the walks as he has in this recent run of success, then there is enough fantasy appeal here to make the Stanford product worth stashing in deeper 12-team leagues ahead of his eventual call-up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Riley O'Brien Stumbles in Fifth Blown Save, Continues to Lose Fantasy Value
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien came into Monday's game with a 2-1 lead and struck out Mike Trout to start the inning. Unfortunately, things went downhill for him from there, as he gave up a single, a hit-by-pitch, a double, an intentional walk, and another hit-by-pitch to allow two runs and turn the 2-1 lead into a 3-2 defeat. The Cardinals bullpen collapsed on Sunday against the Diamondbacks as well, but O'Brien wasn't involved in that contest. The 31-year-old righty is 3-4 with a 3.76 ERA and 3.50 FIP on the season and has picked up 25 saves in his 41 games. He had seven saves in his previous eight scoreless outings, and he's still a strong closer, although his save opportunities have diminished as the Cardinals have started to struggle after their hot start. In most leagues, he's still worth holding at this point, but his value is slipping, and he would be a drop candidate in standard-sized leagues with more outings like Monday's.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
