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Joshua Baez Expected to Be Cardinals Starting Left Fielder in 2027
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez is expected to get every chance to be the team's everyday left fielder in 2027, per Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Baez made his MLB debut this past August, hitting .230/.278/.510 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 108 plate appearances. Baez's season came to an end in mid-September after he suffered an oblique injury, but he should be fully recovered in time for 2027 Spring Training. The 23-year-old flashed high-end power upside during his time in the big leagues, posting an 11.8% barrel rate and a 47.1% hard-hit rate. However, he also struck out in 30.6% of his plate appearances. Still, if Baez gets an extended opportunity in St. Louis next season, he could be a useful power bat for fantasy managers.
Source: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Riley O'Brien Looking to Add Muscle After Fading Down the Stretch
St. Louis Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O'Brien was a first-time All-Star in 2026 in his first full season as the team's closer, and he ended the year tied with San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller for the National League lead in saves (38) with a 4.08 ERA across a career-high 64 innings pitched. O'Brien also set a career high in appearances (66) in his first full year as a big-leaguer. He did not allow an earned run in his first 13 appearances of the year and ended the first half with a 3.43 ERA and a 7.9% walk rate in 39 1/3 frames. O'Brien had 24 saves in his first 28 opportunities. But in 27 appearances after the All-Star break, O'Brien had a 5.11 ERA in 24 2/3 innings, and his walk rate rose to 14.4% while he went 14-for-18 in save chances. Three of his blown saves in the second half came in September, and five of his losing decisions came in his final 13 outings. The 31-year-old said he experienced "fatigue" in the closing days of the season and that his legs have "been feeling heavy compared to how they felt early in the year," according to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As he tired, the velocity of O'Brien's pitches suffered. To be able to maintain velocity through the entire season, O'Brien said he plans to focus on putting on "as much muscle as I can."
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Jordan Walker Battled Hip Pain Late in 2026 Regular Season
St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said that outfielder Jordan Walker (hip) played through hip pain late in the 2026 regular season, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Walker was one of the breakout success stories of 2026, hitting .269/.327/.466 with 29 home runs, 102 RBI, 97 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases across 667 plate appearances. However, the 24-year-old was significantly worse in the second half of the season than he was in the first, hitting .234 with a .660 OPS and seven home runs across 272 plate appearances after the All-Star break. Walker's barrel rate fell from 14.1% to 11.9%, and his strikeout rate increased from 24.8% to 27.9%. Assuming Walker can get healthy over the offseason, fantasy managers can potentially discount some of his second-half struggles as health-related.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Liam Doyle Finishes 2026 on a High Note
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Liam Doyle capped off his 2026 season with a strong start in the Double-A Texas League Championship on Wednesday, allowing just one run (zero earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters in five innings of work. It followed his earlier playoff start in which the left-hander gave up just one earned run on no hits and five walks while striking out eight batters in only 3 2/3 innings pitched. The former fifth-overall draft pick spent the entirety of the 2026 regular season at Double-A Springfield, recording a 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 17.6 percent K-BB% in 23 starts (130 K in 103 IP). His performance this year puts the Cards' top pitching prospect on track for Triple-A in 2027 and a possible MLB debut at some point next year. If there is one criticism, it is that his walk rate remained elevated throughout the season, coming in at 12.5 percent, but so long as the 6-foot-2 hurler can keep striking out batters at a high clip, then it shouldn't get in the way of moving up the ladder. The 22-year-old remains a strong dynasty stash.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Joshua Baez Lands on Injured List With Oblique Strain
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Friday that they placed rookie outfielder Joshua Baez (oblique) on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique strain and recalled infielder Cesar Prieto from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Baez will most likely miss the rest of the 2026 season for the Cardinals after injuring his oblique during Wednesday's contest against the San Francisco Giants. The 23-year-old, who is ranked as the team's No. 3 prospect at MLB Pipeline, hit three home runs against the division-rival Chicago Cubs in his major-league debut on Aug. 15 and ended up hitting .230 (23-for-100) with seven home runs, seven doubles, 18 RBI, two stolen bases, 18 runs scored, four walks, and 33 strikeouts in his first 29 games MLB games across 108 plate appearances. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder will have breakout potential in 2027 for his pure power upside, but fantasy managers might also have to be pretty patient with his high strikeout rate.
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Jesus Baez Continues Success in Double-A Postseason
St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect Jesus Baez helped carry Double-A Springfield to a win in their first game of the Texas League playoffs on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three RBI, and two runs scored in the contest. It was a continuation of his phenomenal 2026 season, one in which began at High-A for 54 games and then finished at Double-A for 59 games. The Cards' 15th-ranked prospect posted a .789 OPS at High-A, but somehow improved to a 1.034 OPS while at Springfield against stiffer competition. The right-handed hitter maintained a 16.0 percent strikeout rate between both stops, and blasted 39 home runs in all, second-most in the minor leagues. The 21-year-old could open next season at Triple-A and find himself ranked well within the organization's top 10 by then. The 2026 breakout put him on the dynasty map, and once he's knocking on the door to the majors next year, his prodigious power will put him on the redraft radar.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Thomas Saggese Has Emerged as a Useful Depth Piece to Target
Across 149 plate appearances in 2026, St. Louis Cardinals utility man Thomas Saggese is hitting .267/.315/.407 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 25 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 24-year-old's strikeout rate remains slightly elevated at 24.8%, but it's still an improvement on the 28.1% mark he posted in 2025. Saggese also brings solid underlying contact metrics, as he's logged a 9.9% barrel rate and 43.6% hard-hit rate. With Cardinals middle infielders Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt both missing time at the start of September, Saggese has been playing an everyday role in St. Louis at either second base or shortstop in recent weeks. Wetherholt returned to the Cardinals on Wednesday, which could impact Saggese's playing time outlook. Still, Saggese's ability to play both the outfield and third base should allow him to stay in his team's lineup on a near-everyday basis. With his balanced profile and multi-positional eligibility, Saggese profiles as a useful deep-league waiver wire addition.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joshua Baez "Day-to-Day" After Leaving with Side Tightness
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez (side) is considered day-to-day after exiting early from his team's loss to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday with side tightness, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Baez was hitless in four at-bats before leaving the game. Across 108 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in mid-August, the 23-year-old is hitting .230/.278/.510 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Baez hit 34 home runs across 410 plate appearances at Triple-A this season and has posted impressive barrel (12.5%) and hard-hit (48.4%) rates in the big leagues. However, he's also struck out in 30.6% of his plate appearances while logging just a 3.7% walk rate. If Baez ends up missing time, Cardinals outfielder Bryan Torres could be in line for an increase in at-bats.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Rainiel Rodriguez Keeps Rolling at Double-A
St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez picked up where he left off the regular season, collecting a pair of base hits in Double-A Springfield's 9-7 playoff win on Tuesday. The Cards' top-ranked prospect finished off the regular season on a tear, going 17-for-41 (.415) with four home runs and more walks (eight) than strikeouts (six) over his final 11 games. The Dominican backstop began the year at High-A, but seemingly got even better upon his promotion to Double-A, producing a .328/.408/.591 slash line with 23 home runs in 87 games for Springfield; he did all that as one of the few 19-year-olds at that level. The right-handed hitter should get a shot at Triple-A next season, and at that point, the talented youngster will be knocking on the door to the majors. His arrow is pointing way up in dynasty formats and should be stashed away as soon as possible if not already rostered.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
JJ Wetherholt Activated And Starting on Wednesday
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Wednesday that they activated rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) from the 10-day injured list. Wetherholt is right back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander Anthony Molina, starting at second base and batting leadoff in his return. He will return for the first time since late August while dealing with tendinitis in his right wrist. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder can still help fantasy managers battling for a championship in the final week and a half of the regular season. The former seventh overall selection from West Virginia in 2024 will return to a .242/.343/.370 slash line with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored across his 505 at-bats. Wetherholt struggled in August before he was shut down, going 19-for-95 (.200) with a homer, four doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs scored, two steals, 15 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games played. Hopefully, he will have better results on offense to close out the year with his wrist issues behind him.
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
JJ Wetherholt to Go Through Full Workout on Tuesday
St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) is scheduled to go through a full pre-game workout on Tuesday after he hits off a pitching machine on Monday, according to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wetherholt is working his way back from tendinitis in his right wrist that had been bothering him for some time. The 24-year-old is making good progress, but if he returns for the Cardinals this year, it might only be for the final homestand of the 2026 campaign, so fantasy managers should not bank on any production from him during the postseason. All in all, it was a successful first year in the big leagues for Wetherholt, as he 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. Wetherholt has clear 20-20 potential going into his sophomore season in 2027 as the Cardinals' regular option at second base.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Masyn Winn Expects to Return on Friday
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb), who was scratched from Wednesday's starting lineup with more soreness in his left thumb after returning from the injured list on Tuesday, expects to be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at home, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Fantasy managers should not be expecting much from the 24-year-old shortstop the rest of the way after he returned from a left-thumb fracture this week. The former second-rounder in 2020 has had a disappointing season overall on offense, slashing just .236/.312/.323 with a .635 OPS, only five home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 49 runs scored across his 436 at-bats. Manager Oliver Marmol said that Winn's availability for the final few weeks of the regular season in 2026 will be a "daily basis" decision, so he might not even be playing regularly. Winn has been even worse in the second half, hitting .218 (26-for-119) with a homer, seven doubles, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored, three steals, 15 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 36 games played.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Masyn Winn Scratched From Wednesday's Lineup With Thumb Soreness
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb), who was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, was scratched from Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants with more soreness in his left thumb, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Thomas Saggese made the start at the 6 for St. Louis and was hitting seventh against Giants right-hander Blade Tidwell. It appears that Winn is not fully recovered from the fractured left thumb that caused him to miss over two weeks recently. If the Cardinals place him back on the IL, Winn will almost certainly miss the rest of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old has been a disappointment for fantasy managers in 2026 in his fourth year in the big leagues, as he is currently hitting .236/.312/.323 with a .635 OPS, only five home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 49 runs scored across 123 games and 494 plate appearances. The former second-rounder has been really poor in the second half, hitting just .218 (26-for-119) with a homer, 15 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 36 games and 137 plate appearances.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
JJ Wetherholt Could Return This Weekend
St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) swung the bat on Monday before the team's game against the San Francisco Giants and is hoping to be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's upcoming homestand that runs from Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 20, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It appears that the anti-inflammatory injection that Wetherholt received recently helped with his right-wrist tendinitis. With St. Louis' homestand kicking off this weekend, it does not look like the Cardinals will require Wetherholt to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick from West Virginia University has had a strong rookie campaign in 2026 and has been the Cardinals' primary second baseman all year. He will return to a .242/.343/.370 slash line with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in his 505 at-bats. It has been a struggle for Wetherholt in the second half, possibly because of the wrist issue he was playing through, as he has hit only .201 (31-for-154) with four homers, four doubles, 12 RBI, 30 runs, five stolen bases, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games since the All-Star break.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Joshua Baez a Slugger to Target on the Waiver Wire
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez continues to show off his power tool at the major league level. In 22 games since being called up for his MLB debut, Baez is slashing .229/.286/.586 with seven home runs, 15 RBI, a 3.9% walk rate, a 35.1% strikeout rate, and 133 wRC+. The discipline and ball-in-play metrics are worrisome, but his absurd power output has made up for it, especially in fantasy baseball leagues. The only thing to consider is that Baez's 9.1% home run rate is not sustainable long-term, so he'll likely cool off eventually. He had a 7.4% home run rate in Triple-A, and even that proportion was absolutely insane. With that being said, Baez hasn't shown any signs of slowing down lately, so he continues to be a worthwhile waiver wire target. He is available in 73% of leagues and ranks as the #65 outfielder in RotoBaller's rest-of-season rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
