Blog

The Cardinal Chronicle Stewart vs Wetherholt - Is the NL Rookie of the Year Race Already Over? St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe latest National League Rookie of the Year poll shows that the race between Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt and Cincinnati Reds slugger Sal Stewart is as close as it gets.However, the two rookies do not face equally challenging paths to the finish line. In MLB.com’s latest poll, released Wednesday, Wetherholt and Stewart each received 144 voting points from a panel of 30 experts. Wetherholt held a slight advantage with 19 first-place votes compared with 17 for Stewart.The voters were asked to consider not only what the rookies have already accomplished, but also how they believe the remainder of the season will unfold. In other words, this was more than a snapshot of the standings. It was also a projection.As of this morning, the race is officially a dead heat.Yet, Wetherholt still has significant work ahead.Power Against Overall ValueThe debate is shaping up as a classic baseball argument: Stewart’s elite offensive production versus Wetherholt’s comprehensive, all-around value. Stewart’s case is the easier one to see.Through Monday’s games, the Reds rookie led all National League rookies with 24 home runs, 85 RBIs and 47 extra-base hits. He strengthened his case during July by hitting seven home runs and posting a .510 slugging percentage.&nbsp;Those are the numbers that jump off a television screen, fill a scoreboard and lead off a highlight show.If Stewart reaches 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, it could be enough to tip the award in his favor. Achieving those traditional power benchmarks as a rookie would provide voters with a straightforward and compelling reason to select him.Wetherholt’s case, however, merits a deeper examination.He entered the week with 16 home runs, second among National League rookies, but his overall offensive production has not matched Stewart’s power or RBI totals. Wetherholt also struggled at the plate during July, finishing the month with a .675 OPS.However, his value has never been limited to his bat.Wetherholt ranked in the 95th percentile in baserunning run value and owned the second-highest fielding run value of any player in the major leagues. His combination of hitting, defense and baserunning made him one of only 11 position players with at least 4.0 FanGraphs WAR entering the week.&nbsp;Stewart’s case can be found in the box score.To fully appreciate Wetherholt’s case, you have to watch the game.The Glove May Decide ItFor Wetherholt to win Rookie of the Year, he may need to finish the season as the clear Gold Glove-caliber second baseman in the National League.Perhaps he will not literally have to win the Gold Glove Award. That honor will not be decided when Rookie of the Year ballots are cast. But voters may need to view him as the league’s premier defensive player at the position.The numbers already support that argument.By June, Wetherholt ranked second among all major league infielders with 13 outs above average. He was tied with Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for the lead among infielders with a plus-12 fielding run value. His defensive performance has only strengthened since then.&nbsp;The latest Rookie of the Year poll credited Wetherholt with a plus-18 fielding run value, the second-highest total among all major league players, regardless of position.&nbsp;That is not simply good rookie defense.That is elite major league defense.Wetherholt may not always deliver the flashy play, but he routinely makes difficult plays look easy thanks to his quick first step, excellent positioning, and ability to read the ball off the bat. While these skills may not generate the same headlines as a three-run homer, they save runs and help win games.The question is whether enough Rookie of the Year voters will give that defensive value the same weight they give Stewart’s home runs and RBIs.The Schedule Could Favor StewartThe remaining schedule may also give Stewart an advantage.The Reds still have a substantial number of games remaining at Great American Ball Park, an environment that continues to favor home-run production.Statcast’s park factors show Cincinnati’s ballpark playing well above the league average for home runs in 2026.&nbsp;That gives Stewart an opportunity to continue building the part of his résumé that already separates him from Wetherholt.The Cardinals, meanwhile, have a considerable amount of divisional baseball remaining. That means Wetherholt will see a steady diet of familiar pitching staffs, including power arms and pitchers who rely on sinkers and ground balls.That does not make it impossible for Wetherholt to finish strong, but it could make it more difficult for him to produce the offensive surge he may need to keep pace with Stewart.Wetherholt does not necessarily have to match Stewart home run for home run. He does, however, need to avoid another extended offensive slump.He also needs more nights like Wednesday.His two-run double against the Yankees broke a scoreless tie and provided the decisive hit in the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. Those are the moments that can help shape an award race during the final two months.&nbsp;More Than an Individual AwardThe Cardinals have more riding on this race than personal recognition for their rookie second baseman.If Wetherholt wins National League Rookie of the Year, St. Louis would receive an extra draft selection through Major League Baseball’s Prospect Promotion Incentive program.The pick would be placed immediately following the first round.The PPI system was created to encourage organizations to place their best prospects on Opening Day rosters rather than keeping them in the minor leagues to manipulate service time. A qualifying player who earns a full year of service and wins Rookie of the Year can earn his organization an additional draft pick.&nbsp;That selection would also come with its own assigned slot value, adding millions of dollars to the Cardinals’ draft bonus pool.For perspective, the Atlanta Braves received the No. 26 overall selection in the 2026 draft after Drake Baldwin won the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year Award. That pick carried a slot value of nearly $3.6 million.&nbsp;The exact value of a potential Cardinals pick would not be established until the 2027 draft order and bonus pools are finalized, but it would likely provide more than $3 million in additional spending power.That money could help the Cardinals sign another premium prospect or allow them to spread savings across several selections during the first 10 rounds. Wetherholt is not only trying to win an award.He could help add another significant piece to the Cardinals’ farm system.Is the Race Already Over?No.It is not even close to being over.But Stewart may have the more straightforward path.If he continues hitting home runs and reaches 30 homers with 100 RBIs, he will have the kind of offensive résumé that is difficult for voters to overlook.For Wetherholt, the path is more complicated.He must continue playing elite defense, remain an impact baserunner and rediscover enough offensive consistency to prevent Stewart from creating too much separation in the traditional statistics.The latest poll says the race is tied.The numbers say Stewart has the offensive momentum.Wetherholt still has time to answer, but his margin for error is getting smaller.The Rookie of the Year race is not over, but the easy part may be. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Stewart vs Wetherholt - Is the NL Rookie of the Year Race Already Over?

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Nolan Gorman Delivers Big Swing for Memphis St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurNolan Gorman gave Memphis the swing it needed Wednesday night.Gorman is the Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day after going 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored in the Redbirds’ 5-4 win over Nashville at AutoZone Park.His final line:1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, RThe homer was his 10th of the season.Memphis had been held scoreless through five innings before Gorman changed the game in the sixth. His two-run home run helped push the Redbirds in front and gave the lineup the jolt it needed after a quiet start.The Redbirds later had to survive a wild ninth inning. Nashville scored three runs in the top half to tie the game, but Memphis answered in the bottom half to walk away with the win.It was not the cleanest finish, but it counts the same.Gorman’s swing was the biggest offensive moment of the night for Memphis. The Redbirds finished with 11 hits, with Joshua Báez going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored, Noah Mendlinger adding two hits and an RBI, and Brody Moore collecting two hits, including a double.But the power headline belonged to Gorman.For a hitter trying to find rhythm, nights like this matter. One swing can change a game. One swing can change the feel of an at-bat, a night, and sometimes the next few days.This was that kind of swing.Two RBIs. A 10th home run. A Memphis win.That earns the spotlight.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Nolan Gorman, DH, Memphis Redbirds Final Line: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Nolan Gorman, Memphis Redbirds | MLB

MiLB Player of the Day: Nolan Gorman

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Brian Holiday Strikes Out 12 in Palm Beach Gem St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurBrian Holiday gave Palm Beach one of the best pitching performances in the Cardinals’ system this season.Holiday is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after striking out 12 over 5.2 scoreless innings in Palm Beach’s 2-1 loss to Jupiter on Wednesday night.His final line: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 KThat is a dominant line.No runs. No walks. Twelve strikeouts.Holiday allowed only two hits and filled the strike zone all night. He threw 79 pitches, 56 for strikes, and gave Palm Beach every chance to win. Jupiter had very little to work with while he was on the mound, and Holiday’s swing-and-miss stuff carried the night.The frustrating part is that Palm Beach still lost.The Cardinals’ pitching staff struck out 19 Jupiter hitters and did not allow an earned run, but two unearned runs were enough to beat them. That is hard to do, and even harder to explain, but baseball has a way of taking a great pitching night and making you stare at the box score like it owes you an apology.Holiday deserved better.Yadiel Batista followed with two innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out four. Justin Militello worked the final 1.1 innings, allowing another unearned run and striking out three. Together, Palm Beach pitching allowed only five hits and one walk.That should win most nights.Offensively, the Cardinals had chances. Palm Beach finished with nine hits, but managed only one run. Trevor Haskins went 2-for-3 with a double. Jonathan Mejía added two hits. Alexander Frias went 1-for-4 and stole his first base with Palm Beach. Cristofer Lebrón drove in the Cardinals’ lone run in the ninth.But the spotlight belongs to Holiday.Twelve strikeouts over 5.2 innings is loud enough. Doing it with no walks and no runs allowed makes it special.Palm Beach did not get the win.Holiday still earned the headline.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Brian Holiday, RHP, Palm Beach Cardinals Final Line: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Brian Holiday, Palm Beach Cardinals | Oklahoma State Athletics

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Brian Holiday

The Cardinal Chronicle Josiah Ragsdale Homers in Cardinals Double-A Debut After Trade St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThat did not take long.Josiah Ragsdale arrived in the Cardinals organization as the second outfielder acquired from Milwaukee in the Dustin May and JoJo Romero trade. Alexander Frias may have brought the louder prospect buzz on deadline day, but Ragsdale wasted no time making sure Cardinals fans knew his name, too.In his Double-A debut with Springfield, Ragsdale went 2-for-4 and launched a 110 mph home run, his 20th homer of the season. The blast gave him a rare 20-20-20 line for the year: 20 home runs, 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases.That is not a bad first impression.The 22-year-old outfielder came to St. Louis from Milwaukee along with Frias in exchange for May and Romero, two veteran pitchers who were set to become free agents after the season. For the Brewers, the move was about strengthening a contending major-league roster. For the Cardinals, it was about turning short-term pitching into young, controllable talent.Ragsdale may already be showing why that return deserves a closer look.A left-handed hitter with speed, patience and emerging power, Ragsdale has been one of the more interesting breakout bats in the minor leagues this season. He was already putting together a strong year before the trade, but the power surge has changed the conversation. A player once viewed mostly as a speed-and-defense outfielder is now showing enough thump to raise the ceiling.That is the part that matters most.Ragsdale has always been able to run. His speed was one of the carrying tools when Milwaukee drafted him in the seventh round out of Boston College in 2025. He stole 30 bases in 56 games during his junior season at BC, and that part of his game has carried into professional baseball. But this season, he has added damage.The home run in his Springfield debut was not a wall-scraper or a wind-aided special. A 110 mph blast gets your attention. That is real contact quality, and it fits with the broader trend in his 2026 season. Ragsdale has been elevating the ball more, driving it with authority and turning what once looked like gap power into over-the-fence production.That is how a prospect profile changes.Before this year, the safe projection on Ragsdale was probably fourth outfielder: enough speed to help on the bases, enough glove to cover ground in the outfield, enough left-handed bat to provide value off the bench. There is nothing wrong with that. Teams need players like that.But when a player adds power to speed and on-base ability, the ceiling starts to move.Ragsdale is not just running into a hot week. He has reached 20 home runs, 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases in his first full professional season. That is a well-rounded offensive profile. It shows speed, extra-base ability, athleticism and enough strength to punish mistakes.The Cardinals’ system needed more of that.This is also why his new ranking is worth noting. MLB Pipeline now has Ragsdale at No. 10 in the Cardinals system, a major jump for a player who was not drafted with a great deal of national attention. That ranking reflects more than one good swing. It reflects a season of steady production, improved power and a skill set that is beginning to look more complete.There are still questions.Ragsdale will have to prove the power is sustainable against better pitching. He will need to continue handling velocity, avoid becoming too passive in deep counts and show he can produce consistently in Double-A. His arm is not considered a major defensive weapon, so the bat has to keep carrying more weight if he ends up in a corner outfield spot.But those are development questions, not warning sirens.The encouraging part is that Ragsdale has already adjusted. He has already turned a speed-first profile into something louder. He has already climbed quickly through the minors. And now, in his first game wearing a Cardinals uniform at the Double-A level, he delivered exactly the kind of swing that makes a front office feel better about a deadline deal.The May-Romero trade was always going to be judged over time. Deadline returns rarely give instant answers. Frias is the longer-term upside play, an 18-year-old outfielder with big tools and years of development ahead. Ragsdale is different. He is older, more advanced and closer to the upper-minors test that separates prospects from suspects.That makes his Springfield debut important.Not because one home run proves everything.It does not.But first impressions matter, and Ragsdale’s first impression came with a loud crack of the bat, a 110 mph exit velocity and another reminder that the Cardinals may have landed more than just a secondary piece in this trade.For a system trying to build its next wave, Ragsdale gives St. Louis something worth watching: a fast-rising left-handed outfielder with speed, patience, power growth and momentum.That is a pretty good place to start. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Josiah Ragsdale, Springfield Cardinals&nbsp; | MLB

Josiah Ragsdale Homers in Cardinals Double-A Debut After Trade

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: Holiday Strikes Out 12, Gorman Powers Memphis St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurWednesday’s farm report had one of the best pitching performances of the season, but not the kind of team results you want around it.Brian Holiday was outstanding for Palm Beach, striking out 12 over 5.2 scoreless innings, but the Cardinals still lost a 2-1 game to Jupiter despite allowing no earned runs. Memphis was the only affiliate to land in the win column, beating Nashville 5-4 after giving up three runs in the ninth. Springfield lost at San Antonio, and Peoria dropped its second straight to Quad Cities.The full-season affiliates finished 1-3.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 62-48 Second Half: 15-20, 8th in the International League West, 7.0 GB Streak: W2Memphis 5, Nashville 4Memphis let a late lead get away, then answered in the bottom of the ninth to beat Nashville, 5-4, at AutoZone Park.The Redbirds were scoreless through five innings before Nolan Gorman changed the game with one swing. Gorman hit his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth, helping Memphis put three runs on the board and take control.Gorman earned Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day honors after going 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.Joshua Báez stayed hot, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. The double was his 22nd of the season. Brody Moore added two hits, including his 11th double, and scored the winning run. Noah Mendlinger went 2-for-3 and drove in a run, while Leo Bernal, Thomas Saggese and Chase Davis also added hits.On the mound, Cooper Hjerpe gave Memphis four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking four and striking out four. Victor Santos allowed one run over two innings, and Brycen Mautz worked a clean seventh.The ninth got messy when Matt Svanson was charged with three runs, but Hancel Rincón finished the game and Memphis found a way to win it in the bottom half.Takeaway: Memphis made it interesting, but the Redbirds won their second straight. Gorman supplied the big swing, and Báez continues to add extra-base production.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 54-49 Second Half: 23-12, 1st in the Texas League North, 4.0 games ahead Streak: L1San Antonio 5, Springfield 3Springfield’s winning streak came to an end in a 5-3 loss at San Antonio.The Cardinals scored twice in the second and once in the eighth, but San Antonio answered with two in the first, two in the fifth and one more in the eighth.Rainiel Rodriguez hit his 13th home run of the season and drove in his 37th run. Josiah Ragsdale also went deep, hitting his first Springfield home run and finishing 2-for-4. That is a nice early sign from one of the newest bats in the system.Won-Bin Cho reached base all four times, going 1-for-1 with a double and three walks, raising his OPS to 1.030. Jesús Báez added a hit, and Deniel Ortiz also singled and scored.On the mound, Yhoiker Fajardo missed bats but could not fully limit the damage. He struck out eight over 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk.Sandro Santana was excellent in relief, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Michael Watson worked a scoreless seventh, while Randel Clemente allowed a run in the eighth.Takeaway: Springfield lost, but there were still good signs. Ragsdale hit his first Double-A homer, Cho reached base four times, and Santana continued to look sharp out of the bullpen.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Overall Record: 51-52 Second Half: 19-18, 5th in the Midwest League West, 3.5 GB Streak: L2Quad Cities 7, Peoria 2Peoria’s offense stayed quiet in a 7-2 loss to Quad Cities.The Chiefs scored once in the first and once in the seventh, but they managed only four hits and struck out 11 times. After winning six straight, Peoria has now dropped two in a row.Michael Dattalo drove in Peoria’s only credited RBI. Yordalin Peña doubled, his second since joining Peoria. José Suárez and Ian Petrutz also singled, while Sammy Hernandez walked and scored.On the mound, Ty Van Dyke allowed three runs over 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits, two walks and two home runs while striking out four. Dylan Driessen was charged with four runs, three earned, in 1.1 innings.The bullpen settled things down late. Gerardo Salas struck out four over two hitless, scoreless innings, and Patrick Galle added a clean ninth with one strikeout.Takeaway: Peoria’s offense has cooled after the winning streak. The late bullpen work was good, but the Chiefs could not overcome the early damage.Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Overall Record: 52-51 Second Half: standings not included in supplied table Streak: L4Jupiter 2, Palm Beach 1This one hurts.Palm Beach got a dominant start from Brian Holiday, struck out 19 Jupiter hitters as a staff, allowed no earned runs, and still lost 2-1.Holiday was outstanding and earned Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day honors after working 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, walking none and striking out 12.His final line: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 KThat is a gem.Yadiel Batista followed with two innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out four. Justin Militello allowed another unearned run in the ninth, and Jupiter finished with two runs despite Palm Beach pitching allowing only five hits and one walk.The offense had chances, finishing with nine hits, but scored only once. Trevor Haskins went 2-for-3 with a double, his 20th of the season. Jonathan Mejía had two hits. Alexander Frias went 1-for-4 and stole his first base with Palm Beach. Ryan Mitchell, Miguel Hernández, Yairo Padilla and Cristofer Lebrón also added hits.Lebrón drove in Palm Beach’s only run in the ninth.Takeaway: Holiday deserved a win. Palm Beach pitching struck out 19 and did not allow an earned run, but two errors and missed offensive chances were enough to turn a dominant pitching night into a loss.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Nolan Gorman, DH, Memphis RedbirdsGorman earns the honor after delivering the big swing in Memphis’ 5-4 win over Nashville.His final line:1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, RThe homer was his 10th of the season and helped Memphis turn a scoreless game into a late lead.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Brian Holiday, RHP, Palm Beach CardinalsHoliday was the easy call on the mound.His final line: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 KTwelve strikeouts. No walks. No earned runs.That is one of the best pitching lines we have seen in the system this season, even if Palm Beach could not finish the night with a win.The Final Word Wednesday was not pretty in the standings, but Brian Holiday’s start deserves a spotlight of its own.Palm Beach lost, but Holiday struck out 12 and walked nobody. The Cardinals’ staff struck out 19 and did not allow an earned run. That is almost impossible to lose, but Palm Beach found a way.Memphis saved the night with a late win. Gorman homered. Báez doubled again. Hjerpe gave them four scoreless innings. Springfield got home runs from Rainiel Rodriguez and Josiah Ragsdale, and Sandro Santana looked strong in relief.Peoria cooled off after its six-game winning streak.One win. Three losses.But Holiday’s line was loud enough to carry the report. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Brian Holiday, Springfield Cardinals | MLB

Farm Report: Holiday Strikes Out 12, Gorman Powers Memphis

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinals Shut Out in the Bronx St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurOne night after the St. Louis Cardinals swung their way to a big win in the Bronx, the bats went quiet.Very quiet.The Cardinals were shut out by the New York Yankees, 2-0, Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, wasting a strong start from Hunter Dobbins and missing too many chances in a game that was there to be taken.This was not a blowout.This was not a night when the pitching staff failed to give the offense a chance.This was the opposite.Dobbins kept the Cardinals in the game. Caleb Ferguson came in and did his job. The staff held the Yankees to five hits and two runs.Both runs came on solo home runs.That should be enough to give a lineup a chance to win.The Cardinals just did not score.After Monday night’s 13-7 win over the Yankees, Tuesday turned into a completely different kind of game. Instead of a slugfest, this was a pitching duel between Dobbins and Ryan Weathers, and for most of the night, the Cardinals had enough baserunners to make it interesting.They just never made it count.New York broke through in the bottom of the second inning when Jazz Chisholm Jr. lifted a solo home run into the right-field seats, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. It was the kind of swing that can change a low-scoring game quickly, especially on a night when runs were hard to find.Dobbins did not let the inning grow.That mattered.He settled back in and continued to keep the Yankees from building much of anything. New York had a lead, but it never felt like the game was out of reach. Dobbins kept working, kept the ball on the ground when he needed to, and gave the Cardinals exactly the kind of start they should be able to support.The Cardinals had their first real opening in the middle innings, but Weathers kept shutting the door. He was not overpowering in a dramatic way, but he was effective. He worked six scoreless innings, allowed four hits and struck out six, keeping St. Louis from finding the big swing or the timely knock.The Yankees added their second run in the fifth, and it came with a little extra sting.George Lombard Jr., making his major league debut, got a sweeper from Dobbins and drove it into the left-field seats for his first major league hit and first major league home run. The solo shot made it 2-0 New York.That was all the Yankees needed.Dobbins finished with a line that deserved better: 6.1 innings, four hits, two runs, two earned, three walks and four strikeouts. He threw 92 pitches, 56 for strikes, and both runs against him came on solo homers.That is a start a team should win more often than not.The Cardinals did not.Their best chance against Weathers came in the sixth. JJ Wetherholt drew a two-out walk, and Iván Herrera followed with a single up the middle. Wetherholt went first to third, giving St. Louis runners at the corners and finally putting real pressure on the Yankees.José Fermín worked the count full and put a good swing on a 94 mph sinker, but he lined it right at the left fielder to end the inning.That was the kind of night it was.Good enough contact.Wrong spot.No runs.The Cardinals had another major chance in the eighth. Pedro Pagés singled, Bryan Torres walked, and Wetherholt hit a grounder that could have ended the inning, but the Yankees could not complete the double play. New York then intentionally walked Alec Burleson, loading the bases and choosing to face Nelson Velázquez.That was the moment.Bases loaded.Two outs.Down two.A chance to flip the game.Velázquez struck out on three straight splitters.Threat over.Game still 2-0.That was the Cardinals’ last best shot.Caleb Ferguson, making another appearance after joining the Cardinals from Cincinnati, gave St. Louis exactly what it needed out of the bullpen. He entered in the seventh with two runners on and one out, then got a double-play ball on his first pitch to end the inning.Ferguson stayed on and worked a scoreless eighth, finishing with 1.2 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, struck out one and kept the Yankees from adding on.Again, the pitching staff did its job.The offense did not.In the ninth, Masyn Winn lined out to Chisholm at second. Blaze Jordan struck out. Nathan Church struck out, with the final call confirmed after an ABS challenge.That ended it.The Cardinals finished with six hits, three walks and seven left on base. They had traffic. They had chances. They had the tying run on base in the eighth and the bases loaded with two outs.They came away with nothing.That is the part that should bother them most.Dobbins gave the Cardinals a real start. Ferguson gave them clean relief. The Yankees scored twice, and only twice. On the road, against a playoff-caliber club, that is the kind of pitching performance a team has to turn into a win.St. Louis could not.After Monday night’s offensive explosion, Tuesday was a reminder that one big night does not fix the larger issue. The Cardinals have had too many games lately where the pitching has held up, but the lineup has not delivered enough in the moments that decide the game.This was another one.The Cardinals did not get run out of Yankee Stadium.They got shut out of it.And that feels worse in some ways, because this was a winnable game from start to finish.The Yankees needed only two swings.The Cardinals needed one answer.They never found it.The Cardinals finished with six hits, three walks and seven runners left on base. They had chances, but could not produce the swing they needed.The Bottom Line Hunter Dobbins gave the Cardinals a chance to win.The bullpen kept the game close.The offense did not do enough.The Yankees scored twice on two solo home runs, and that was enough to beat St. Louis, 2-0, at Yankee Stadium.When your pitching staff allows two runs, you have to find a way to win.Tuesday night, the Cardinals did not. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Hunter Dobbins, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Cardinals Shut Out in the Bronx

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle 

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle, Ray Mileur

The Cardinal Notebook

Stewart vs Wetherholt - Is the NL Rookie of the Year Race...

MiLB Player of the Day: Nolan Gorman

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Brian Holiday

Josiah Ragsdale Homers in Cardinals Double-A Debut After ...

Farm Report: Holiday Strikes Out 12, Gorman Powers Memphis

Cardinals Shut Out in the Bronx