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Cardinals Promote Luis Gastelum for MLB DebutThe Cardinal Chronicle St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals have reached into one of the best bullpens in Triple-A and pulled up one of its most dominant arms.Right-handed reliever Luis Gastelum is being promoted from Triple-A Memphis for his major-league debut ahead of today’s doubleheader, according to Jeff Jones. The move will require the Cardinals to clear both a 40-man roster spot and an active roster spot, but the timing makes sense for a bullpen that needs immediate coverage and a fresh arm.Gastelum has earned the call.The 24-year-old right-hander has been one of the most effective relief pitchers in the International League this season, putting together a dominant run for Memphis while helping anchor one of the strongest bullpens in Triple-A.His 2026 line at Memphis speaks for itself:7-1 2.27 ERA 43.2 IP 49 strikeouts 0.98 WHIP .172 opponent batting averageThat is not a small sample of quiet success. That is sustained performance at the highest level of the minor leagues.Gastelum also recently put together a 19-inning scoreless streak, retiring hitters with the kind of efficiency and swing-and-miss that forced the Cardinals to take notice. At some point, the numbers stop being interesting and start becoming impossible to ignore.That point has arrived.What makes Gastelum especially intriguing is the weapon behind the numbers. His signature pitch is a mid-80s Vulcan changeup, a pitch he developed after experimenting with different grips before landing on one that gives hitters a difficult look with late movement and deception. It has become a legitimate out pitch and the separator in his arsenal.The fastball generally sits in the low 90s, averaging around 93-94 mph, but the changeup is the pitch that makes the whole package work. Gastelum can miss bats, change speeds and keep hitters from sitting on velocity.That profile matters.The Cardinals’ bullpen has been stretched, and the doubleheader creates an immediate need for coverage. But this is more than simply adding a fresh arm for one long day. Gastelum has pitched his way into the conversation as a legitimate bullpen option for St. Louis, not just an emergency call-up.He was not on the 40-man roster, which made the path a little more complicated. The Cardinals had to be willing to make a real roster decision to get him to St. Louis. That tells you something about how they view his performance and his readiness.Signed out of Mexico in April 2023, Gastelum has moved quickly through the Cardinals’ system. He also represented Team Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, giving him another layer of experience beyond the normal minor-league track.Now, he gets his first opportunity in the big leagues.For a Cardinals club trying to stabilize the bullpen, Gastelum brings exactly what they need: strike-throwing ability, swing-and-miss, confidence and recent dominance against upper-level hitters.Memphis has been the proving ground. St. Louis is now the test.Luis Gastelum has earned the opportunity.Now the Cardinals get to find out if one of the International League’s best relief arms can help steady the bullpen in the majors. 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: Luis Gastelum, St. Louis Cardinals | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Cardinals Promote Luis Gastelum for His MLB Debut

The Cardinal Chronicle Cardinals Face Off in Doubleheader Against First-Place Brewers St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinals let one get away Monday night.Now they have to turn the page quickly.St. Louis returns to Busch Stadium on Tuesday for a day-night doubleheader against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, with a chance to recover from a frustrating 4-3 loss in the series opener and keep this five-game set from getting away early.Game 1 is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. CT and serves as the makeup game from the May 5 postponement. Game 2 is set for 6:45 p.m. CT.The pitching picture remains unsettled in places. Milwaukee is scheduled to send right-hander Jacob Misiorowski to the mound in Game 1, while the Cardinals had not finalized their starter as of the latest listings. For Game 2, Milwaukee remains listed as TBD, while Andre Pallante is expected to get the ball for St. Louis.That makes Tuesday a demanding baseball day for the Cardinals.It is not just two games.It is two games against the division leader, one day after the Cardinals had a three-run lead, a strong start from Dustin May and a real chance to strike first in the series.Instead, Milwaukee did what first-place teams do. The Brewers waited, pressured the bullpen and turned one messy seventh inning into a 4-3 win.May gave the Cardinals exactly what they needed Monday. He worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed four hits, struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Considering the recent ankle issue and limited workload in his previous outing, that was a strong response. The Cardinals got him a 3-0 lead behind run-scoring at-bats from Nelson Velázquez, José Fermín and Masyn Winn.Then the seventh inning changed everything.Justin Bruihl left with a right ankle sprain while trying to make a play on a soft grounder. Ryan Fernandez came in cold, Milwaukee loaded the bases, David Hamilton delivered a two-run double, and Brice Turang followed with the two-run single that gave the Brewers the lead for good.That is the kind of loss that can sit with a team if it lets it.The Cardinals cannot let it.A doubleheader gives them an immediate chance to answer, but it also puts pressure on the pitching staff, the bullpen and the roster depth. One short start in Game 1 can damage Game 2. One overworked bullpen arm can change the late innings of the nightcap. One bad inning can turn a split into a lost day.That is why Tuesday is about more than chasing two wins.It is about control.The Cardinals need to control the strike zone. They need to control the running game. They need to control their defensive innings. And most of all, they need to control the damage when Milwaukee begins to apply pressure.That is what the Brewers do well.Milwaukee enters the doubleheader at 56-33, while St. Louis comes in at 47-41. The Brewers have won six of their last eight games and continue to play like a club that understands how to win tight games. They do not need a five-run inning to beat you. They can turn a walk, a soft single, a defensive mistake and one hard swing into enough offense to win.The Cardinals saw that Monday.Now they get Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1.That is no easy assignment.Misiorowski enters at 9-4 with a 1.47 ERA and 156 strikeouts, giving Milwaukee one of the most difficult arms in baseball through the first half. He brings power, swing-and-miss stuff and the kind of presence that can make a lineup speed itself up. The Cardinals cannot let him turn the first game into a strikeout parade.The approach has to be disciplined without being passive.Make him throw strikes. Do not expand the zone early. Do not chase velocity just because it looks hittable out of the hand. But when he gives the Cardinals something in the middle of the plate, they have to be ready to hit it.Against a pitcher like Misiorowski, chances may be limited. The Cardinals cannot waste them.That puts extra importance on the top and middle of the order. JJ Wetherholt needs to set a tone. Iván Herrera needs to get on base. Jordan Walker needs to remain a threat in the middle. Alec Burleson, Masyn Winn, Nelson Velázquez, Blaze Jordan, Pedro Pagés and the rest of the lineup have to find ways to lengthen at-bats and make Milwaukee work.This is not the kind of pitcher a team usually knocks out by accident.You have to earn it.The bigger question for St. Louis in Game 1 is who takes the ball. With the starter still listed as TBD, the Cardinals may have to piece together innings, lean on a call-up or use a bulk plan depending on roster movement. Whatever direction they choose, the mission is the same.Keep Milwaukee close.The Cardinals do not need seven dominant innings in Game 1, but they do need enough length and enough strike-throwing to avoid exposing the bullpen before the nightcap. That will be especially important after Monday’s seventh inning and Bruihl’s injury.Game 2 brings its own challenge.Pallante is expected to start the nightcap for St. Louis, and the Cardinals will need him to give them exactly what he has provided at his best this season: strikes, ground balls, competitive innings and a chance to keep the bullpen organized.Pallante does not have to be perfect.He does have to be efficient.A doubleheader can get away from a team when the second game becomes a bullpen scramble by the fourth inning. If Pallante can get the Cardinals into the middle or later innings with the game under control, St. Louis has a real chance to salvage or win the day.The Cardinals’ offense also has to do its part.Monday’s loss was not entirely on the bullpen. St. Louis scored three runs, but the club had chances to add on. Against Milwaukee, especially with the Brewers’ pitching depth and late-inning arms, three runs can disappear quickly. The Cardinals need to convert traffic into damage, not just threats.That means productive outs. Two-out hits. Sacrifice flies. Taking the extra base when it is there. Refusing to give away at-bats with runners in scoring position.This is not a series where style points matter.This is a series where execution matters.Milwaukee’s lineup gives the Cardinals plenty to handle. Brice Turang extended his hitting streak Monday and delivered the decisive swing. Christian Yelich remains a table-setter and run producer. Jackson Chourio brings danger. William Contreras is one of the better offensive catchers in the game. Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and the rest of the lineup give Milwaukee speed, athleticism and pressure.They are not just waiting around for home runs.They force mistakes.That is why the Cardinals need cleaner baseball Tuesday than they played in the seventh inning Monday. Against Milwaukee, the little things do not stay little very long. A missed play on the mound, a walk, a poorly located pitch or a failure to finish an inning can become the difference between a win and another frustrating loss.The standings make this bigger.The Cardinals are still in the fight, but Milwaukee is the club setting the pace in the National League Central. St. Louis cannot catch the Brewers in one day, but it can stop the bleeding, tighten the feel of the series and prevent Milwaukee from walking into Busch Stadium and taking complete control.That starts with Game 1.Then it has to carry into Game 2.A split would keep the Cardinals alive in the series. A sweep of the doubleheader would completely change the tone after Monday’s loss. Getting swept would put St. Louis in a deep hole before the series even reaches Wednesday.That is the reality of a five-game division set packed into four days.There is not much time to breathe.The Cardinals had Monday in their hands and lost it.Tuesday gives them two chances to get it back.Misiorowski waits in Game 1. Pallante is lined up for Game 2. The Brewers are in first place for a reason.Now the Cardinals have to answer like a team still serious about chasing them.Game Info Matchup: Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals When: Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Where: Busch Stadium, St. LouisGame 1 First Pitch: 1:15 p.m. CT Makeup of May 5 postponement Probable Pitchers: RHP Jacob Misiorowski vs. Cardinals TBD Misiorowski: 9-4, 1.47 ERA, 156 SO Records: Brewers 56-33; Cardinals 47-41 Broadcast: Cardinals.TV / Brewers.TVGame 2 First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. CT Probable Pitchers: Brewers TBD vs. RHP Andre Pallante Records: Brewers 56-33; Cardinals 47-41 Broadcast: Cardinals.TV / Brewers.TV 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: <a href="http://www.cardinalchronicle.com">www.cardinalchronicle.com</a>Photo Credit: Oli Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals | &nbsp;Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Cardinals Face Off in Doubleheader Against the Brewers

The Cardinal Chronicle Cardinals Come Up Short as Cubs Salvage Series Finale St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals still left Chicago with the series.They did not leave with the sweep.After hammering the Cubs 17-1 on Friday and shutting them out 3-0 on Saturday, the Cardinals had a chance Sunday afternoon to finish the weekend with a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field. Instead, Chicago answered late, taking advantage of a rough sixth inning and two costly St. Louis errors to beat the Cardinals, 6-4, in the series finale.It was a missed opportunity.Not a disastrous weekend.But a missed opportunity all the same.The Cardinals had put themselves in position to do something loud inside the division. They had dominated the first two games of the series, outscoring Chicago 20-1, and they had the Cubs searching for answers. Then Jordan Walker delivered the swing that looked like it might carry St. Louis to another win.For a few minutes, it felt like the Cardinals were about to steal the finale too.Walker’s three-run homer in the sixth inning turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead. It was his 20th home run of the season, and it continued a strong road swing for a player who was named an All-Star this weekend and continues to look more and more like a centerpiece bat in the Cardinals’ lineup.But the lead did not last.Chicago scored four times in the bottom of the sixth, flipping the game back in the Cubs’ direction and turning what could have been a sweep into a salvage win for the home club.That was the game.The Cubs struck first against Matthew Liberatore in the bottom of the first. Pete Crow-Armstrong reached on an infield single, stole second, and came home when Alex Bregman doubled to right-center field. After Seiya Suzuki struck out, Carson Kelly walked and Michael Busch was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out.Nico Hoerner then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Bregman and giving Chicago a 2-0 lead.Liberatore avoided further damage, but the early inning forced the Cardinals to chase from the start.St. Louis had a chance to answer in the second. Walker opened the inning with a walk, but was caught stealing during Lars Nootbaar’s at-bat. Masyn Winn followed with an infield single, Nathan Church singled to right, and José Fermín walked to load the bases.That brought Bryan Torres to the plate with a chance to change the inning.He popped out to shortstop.The Cardinals had traffic, but no run.That mattered later.Javier Assad kept St. Louis quiet through 4 2/3 innings. The Cardinals made him work at times, but they could not break through. Herrera struck out three times. Nootbaar went hitless. The bottom of the order created a chance in the second, but the Cardinals did not finish it.For five innings, the Cubs held a 2-0 lead.Then Walker changed the game.JJ Wetherholt singled to center to open the sixth. Iván Herrera struck out, but Alec Burleson singled to right, putting two aboard. Chicago went to Tyler Ferguson, and Walker wasted no time making the Cubs pay.He drove a three-run home run to left-center field, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.That was the swing St. Louis needed.It was also another reminder of what Walker has become this season. His power is no longer theoretical. His production is no longer just about flashes. On Sunday, he put the Cardinals ahead with one swing and later drove in their fourth run with a sacrifice fly.Walker accounted for every Cardinals run.That should have been enough to give St. Louis a real chance.Instead, the bottom of the sixth got away.Liberatore started the inning by walking Kelly and allowing a single to Busch. That ended his afternoon. Matt Svanson entered with two runners aboard and no outs, trying to protect a one-run lead.Hoerner singled to right, scoring Kelly and tying the game 3-3.The inning kept unraveling from there.Ian Happ popped out, but Dansby Swanson reached on a fielder’s choice that brought home Busch. On the play, Fermín made a throwing error, allowing Hoerner to reach third and Swanson to move into scoring position. The Cubs had the lead back, 4-3.Then came the play that created the separation.Pedro Ramírez lifted a sacrifice fly to right field. Hoerner scored from third, and Swanson also came around after Walker’s throw got away for another Cardinals error. What could have been a manageable inning had turned into a four-run swing.Chicago led 6-3.The Cardinals had taken the lead in the top half.They gave it right back in the bottom half.That is the kind of inning that keeps a sweep from happening.The frustrating part is that Liberatore had settled in after the first. He worked clean innings in the third and fifth and used a double play to erase a single in the fourth. His final line was not terrible — five innings, four hits, four runs, three earned, two walks and three strikeouts — but the sixth inning changed the shape of the outing.He left with trouble on the bases.The bullpen and defense could not clean it up.Svanson was charged with two unearned runs over 1 2/3 innings. Ryan Fernandez came in to finish the seventh and struck out Happ with two aboard, keeping the Cardinals within reach.St. Louis made one final push in the eighth.Wetherholt singled to right-center. Herrera grounded out, moving him to second. Burleson singled to right, putting runners at the corners. Walker then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Wetherholt and cutting the deficit to 6-4.That gave Walker four RBIs on the day.It also gave the Cardinals one more chance to make it interesting.But Nootbaar grounded out to second, and that was as close as St. Louis would get.The Cardinals finished with four runs on seven hits. Wetherholt went 2-for-4 and scored twice. Burleson went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Walker went 1-for-2 with a homer, a sacrifice fly, a walk and four RBIs. Winn and Church each added a hit.But outside of Walker, the lineup did not produce enough damage.That was the difference.Chicago also had seven hits, but the Cubs turned their chances into bigger innings. Crow-Armstrong had two hits and stole two bases. Bregman drove in the first run with a double. Hoerner drove in two. Kelly reached three times. Busch reached twice. Ramírez’s sacrifice fly became one of the biggest plays of the game because of the error that followed.The Cubs did not overwhelm the Cardinals.They took advantage of the inning St. Louis gave them.That is what made the loss sting.The Cardinals had a chance to sweep Chicago at Wrigley Field. They had a chance to extend the momentum after winning three straight road games, including Thursday’s comeback win in Atlanta and the first two games of this series. They had a chance to put another statement inside the National League Central race.Instead, they leave with two out of three.That is still a good road series.It just could have been better.There is no reason to overreact to one loss after the Cardinals outscored the Cubs 24-7 over the weekend. They came into Wrigley and took the series. They won one game with a 17-run avalanche. They won another with pitching and a shutout. They showed two very different ways to win against a division rival on the road.That matters.But Sunday also showed why small details still matter.A missed bases-loaded chance in the second. A walk to start the sixth. A ground ball that turned into a run and an error. A sacrifice fly that turned into two runs because of another throwing mistake. Those are the kinds of plays that change a game, especially when a team is trying to finish off a sweep.The Cardinals did plenty right this weekend.They did not do enough right Sunday.Walker’s bat kept them in it. Wetherholt and Burleson set the table. The Cardinals had the lead in the sixth.But the Cubs answered, the Cardinals made mistakes, and the sweep slipped away.St. Louis still won the series.Chicago salvaged the finale.Now the Cardinals head forward knowing the weekend was good — but Sunday was one that got away. 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: Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Cardinals Come Up Short as Cubs Salvage Series Finale

The Cardinal Chronicle Jurrangelo Cijntje Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Week St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurJurrangelo Cijntje gave the Cardinals exactly the kind of outing that reminds everyone why his name carries so much weight and intrigue.Cijntje, the switch-pitching right-hander for Double-A Springfield, is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Week after turning in six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.His weekly line was strong across the board: 6.0 innings, three hits, no runs, no earned runs, three walks, nine strikeouts, no home runs allowed, a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.That will win a weekly honor.Cijntje’s July 4 start against the Arkansas Travelers was one of the best pitching performances in the Cardinals’ system. He worked six shutout innings, allowed only three hits and missed bats all night. The walks kept the outing from being spotless, but the strikeout total and run prevention made it the clear standout performance of the week.The Cardinals acquired Cijntje from the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2026 season as part of the Brendan Donovan trade, and his profile immediately became one of the most unique in the organization. A true switch-pitcher, Cijntje has the rare ability to throw with both arms, though the Cardinals have primarily focused his development around his higher-ceiling right-handed delivery.That right-handed side was the story again this week.Cijntje has had some uneven results this season at Double-A, with his ERA still carrying the weight of a few rough outings and stretches where the walks have hurt him. But the swing-and-miss has never disappeared. He leads all Cardinals minor leaguers in strikeouts and sits near the top of the Texas League leaderboard, giving the organization a high-upside arm with real bat-missing ability.That is what makes this outing important.It was not just six scoreless innings. It was six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against Double-A competition, showing the kind of dominance that makes evaluators take another look. When Cijntje is around the strike zone and getting ahead, the stuff plays. The fastball has life, the breaking stuff misses bats, and hitters have a hard time getting comfortable.He even mixed in his left-handed ability during the outing, facing two batters from the southpaw side and recording a groundout. That part of his game will always make him fascinating, but the larger developmental question remains the same: can he keep refining the command enough to let the stuff carry him forward?This week, the answer looked encouraging.Cijntje’s overall season still has some rough edges, but his best nights are starting to show what the Cardinals hoped they were getting — a power arm with uncommon athleticism, elite strikeout ability and enough uniqueness to make him one of the more compelling pitchers in the system.The Cardinal Chronicle’s Pitcher of the Week honor goes to the arm that delivered the most dominant performance, and Cijntje earned it.The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Pitcher of the Week: Jurrangelo Cijntje, Double-A SpringfieldWeekly Line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIPWhy He Was Chosen: Cijntje delivered six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, allowing only three hits and no home runs. It was the most dominant pitching line of the week in the Cardinals’ minor-league system.Old School Take: There is no mystery here. Six shutout innings and nine strikeouts will get a pitcher noticed, whether he throws with one hand, two hands or both feet off the mound. Cijntje still has command work ahead of him, but when the stuff is in the zone, hitters do not look comfortable.This past week, Jurrangelo Cijntje looked like the high-upside arm the Cardinals believed they were getting. 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: Jurrangelo Cijntje, Springfield Cardinals | MLB

Jurrangelo Cijntje Named MiLB Pitcher of the Week

The Cardinal Chronicle Won-Bin Cho Named Cardinals Minor League Player of the Week St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurCho, the 22-year-old outfield prospect from Seongnam, South Korea, is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Cardinals Minor League Player of the Week after another loud stretch for the Springfield Cardinals.Over the last week, Cho went 7-for-20 with four home runs, six RBIs, six runs scored and a 1.331 OPS over five games. He hit .350 during the stretch and continued to show the kind of power surge that has quickly become one of the more important development stories in the Cardinals’ minor-league system.For Cho, this is more than a good week. It is part of a larger breakout season.Signed by the Cardinals as an international free agent in January 2022, Cho holds a unique place in franchise history as the first amateur player signed out of Asia by the organization. After a couple of quieter seasons that caused his prospect stock to settle some, he has flipped the script in 2026 with a full-scale offensive breakout.Cho opened the season by putting together a dominant stretch with High-A Peoria, where he earned Midwest League Player of the Week honors in late May. That performance helped push him to Double-A Springfield in late June.Since then, the power has followed him.Cho has already hit seven home runs in his first 10 games at the Double-A level, a stunning start for a player who entered the season still looking to prove that the raw tools could become consistent game production. Across both levels this season, he is slashing .271/.388/.546, showing not only power, but the on-base ability and plate discipline that make the breakout feel more sustainable.The power jump is the headline, and it should be. Cho has now reached 15 home runs on the season, more than doubling his previous career high of seven. But this is not just a one-dimensional profile. He also brings speed and discipline, with 23 stolen bases and a patient, walk-heavy approach that gives him more ways to impact the game.That combination matters.Power can grab the spotlight, but power with speed, patience and defensive value in the outfield is what turns a good week into a real prospect development story. Cho is no longer just an interesting international signing with tools. He is producing, and he is doing it at a level where production starts to carry more weight.There will still be adjustments ahead. Double-A has a way of testing hitters, and pitchers will eventually adjust back. But through his first few weeks with Springfield, Cho has looked anything but overmatched.This week, he was the best position player in the Cardinals’ system.The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Player of the Week: Won-Bin Cho, RF, Springfield CardinalsWeekly Line: 5 G, 20 AB, 6 R, 7 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 6 K, .350 AVG, 1.331 OPSWhy He Was Chosen: Cho delivered the strongest offensive week in the system, combining power, production and impact at Double-A. His four home runs and 1.331 OPS made him the clear choice.Old School Take: Sometimes a player’s season changes when the ball starts leaving the yard. Cho always had tools, but now the production is catching up. Four home runs in a week at Double-A will get a man noticed, and seven homers in his first 10 games at the level is not something you just shrug off.Won-Bin Cho has turned a breakout season into a statement. 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: Won-Bin Cho, Springfield Cardinals | Springfield Daily Citizen

MiLB Player of the Week: Won-Bin Cho

The Cardinal Chronicle Cardinals Open Critical Five-Game Set Against the 1st Place Brewers St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinals did what they needed to do at Wrigley Field, by winning the series, but now comes the big test.After taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs over the Fourth of July weekend, St. Louis returns home Monday night to open a five-game series against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. The set runs Monday through Thursday, with a Tuesday doubleheader built in as the makeup for the May 5 postponement.That makes this more than a normal division series.This is a chance for the Cardinals to measure themselves directly against the club setting the pace in the National League Central.Milwaukee enters the series at 55-33, while St. Louis comes in at 47-40. The Brewers sit atop the division, and the Cardinals are still trying to close ground while holding their place in the National League Wild Card picture. The math is not complicated. These games count twice emotionally, if not officially: a Cardinals win adds one to their column and hands one to the team they are chasing.That is old-school standings math, and it still works just fine.The Cardinals leave Chicago with mixed feelings. They opened the series with a 17-1 blowout, followed it with a 3-0 shutout, then missed a chance at the sweep Sunday when the Cubs rallied for a 6-4 win. St. Louis still won the series, which matters, but Sunday was a reminder that division games are rarely handed over cleanly. The Cardinals had a lead and let it get away.Against Milwaukee, that kind of margin will be even thinner.The Brewers are built differently than most teams the Cardinals have seen lately. Milwaukee has won with run prevention, pitching depth and enough athletic offense to keep pressure on opponents. The Brewers may not lead the league in home runs, but they score runs, steal bases and force pitchers to keep working.That means St. Louis cannot give away free baserunners. Walks, defensive mistakes and missed cutoff throws are exactly how Milwaukee turns ordinary innings into trouble.Monday’s opener is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CT at Busch Stadium, with right-hander Dustin May expected to start for the Cardinals against Brewers left-hander Shane Drohan.May enters at 5-6 with a 4.80 ERA. His season has been a study in extremes. At his best, he has looked like a rotation stabilizer, including a dominant stretch that featured a complete-game, one-hit shutout against San Diego. At his worst, the command has leaked, the innings have gotten short, and the Cardinals have been forced to chase games earlier than they would like.The Cardinals need the good version Monday.May’s job is not complicated. He needs to attack the strike zone, keep the ball on the ground, avoid the big inning and give the Cardinals length. Milwaukee is too disciplined to let a pitcher survive on stuff alone. If May falls behind, the Brewers will make him work. If he gives them traffic ahead of their run producers, the opener can tilt quickly.Drohan enters at 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 59 strikeouts. He gives Milwaukee a left-handed look in the opener, and the Cardinals’ right-handed bats will need to be ready. St. Louis cannot let him settle into easy early innings. The approach needs to be patient without becoming passive: make him throw strikes, create traffic, and punish mistakes in the zone.The Tuesday afternoon game brings the biggest pitching challenge of the series, with Milwaukee scheduled to send right-hander Jacob Misiorowski to the mound. Misiorowski enters at 9-4 with a 1.47 ERA and 156 strikeouts, giving the Brewers one of the most dominant arms in the league through the first half.That is not a casual assignment.The Cardinals will have to grind that game. Misiorowski can miss bats, overpower hitters and turn a lineup impatient in a hurry. St. Louis cannot try to win the game with one swing in every at-bat. They need to shorten up, extend counts where possible and take advantage of whatever limited mistakes he gives them.The second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader remains unsettled on the latest listings, with both clubs still working through pitching plans. Those are the games where depth matters. A doubleheader can expose a roster quickly, especially if the first game drains the bullpen. The Cardinals will need length somewhere, whether it comes from a starter, a bulk arm or a reliever asked to cover more than three outs.Wednesday is expected to feature Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison, who enters at 8-1 with a 2.82 ERA and 99 strikeouts. Harrison gives Milwaukee another tough left-handed starter and another reason the Cardinals’ right-handed bats have to carry a large part of the series. Jordan Walker, Iván Herrera, Masyn Winn, Blaze Jordan, Pedro Pagés and the rest of the right-handed group will have opportunities, but they will also have to handle quality stuff.Thursday’s finale remains partly unsettled, with Milwaukee’s starter still to be determined after Brandon Woodruff’s latest shoulder issue. For the Cardinals, Kyle Leahy is expected to factor into the back half of the series, with Andre Pallante also positioned as one of the key arms St. Louis will need during the five-game stretch.That is the larger story for the Cardinals.The pitching has to hold.The offense has enough talent to win games. Walker continues to look like the middle-order bat St. Louis has been waiting on, entering the series with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs. Alec Burleson remains one of the steadier bats on the roster. Herrera gives the lineup on-base value. JJ Wetherholt has brought polish, energy and production from the top of the order. Nathan Church, Bryan Torres, Masyn Winn and others have helped lengthen the lineup.But against Milwaukee, offense alone will not be enough.The Brewers bring the best pitching staff in baseball by ERA, and their rotation has been especially strong. Milwaukee also has late-inning arms capable of shortening games once they get a lead. That puts pressure on the Cardinals to score early and avoid waiting around for one late rally.The Cardinals cannot afford to sleepwalk through the first five innings, then hope the ninth bails them out.They need early traffic. They need productive outs. They need to turn leadoff baserunners into runs. They need to make Milwaukee’s pitchers feel every inning.The Brewers’ offense has plenty of pieces to watch. Jake Bauers leads the club in home runs, Jackson Chourio continues to bring power and athleticism, Brice Turang has been productive, and William Contreras remains one of the better catching bats in the league. Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Gary Sánchez and Andrew Vaughn give Milwaukee more than enough depth to punish mistakes.This is not a lineup built around one hitter.It is built around pressure.That is why the Cardinals’ defense matters. Winn’s glove at shortstop, Wetherholt’s work at second, Walker’s improving reads in right, Church’s outfield range and the catching staff’s handling of the running game all become part of the story. Against Milwaukee, the little things tend to turn into big innings if they are not handled cleanly.This series also comes at a critical time in the standings.The Cardinals are still contenders because the standings say they are in the race. But contenders have to win games against the teams in front of them. Beating the Cubs two of three at Wrigley was a good step. Hosting Milwaukee for five games is a larger opportunity.A strong series could tighten the division picture and give St. Louis real momentum heading toward the All-Star break.A poor series could widen the gap and make the trade-deadline conversation feel a lot more urgent.That is the reality.The Cardinals are flawed. The pitching remains the question. The bullpen has had moments that make a one-run lead feel like a prayer request. The offense can still run hot and cold. But this team has also shown it can beat good clubs, win road series and get real production from a young core that is no longer waiting on tomorrow.Now comes Milwaukee.Five games. Four days. First-place opponent. Busch Stadium.If the Cardinals want to keep climbing, this is where the ladder starts.Series Info Matchup: Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Dates: Monday, July 6 through Thursday, July 9, 2026 Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Broadcast: Cardinals.TV / Brewers.TVMonday, July 6 First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. CT Probable Pitchers: LHP Shane Drohan vs. RHP Dustin May Drohan: 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 59 SO May: 5-6, 4.80 ERA, 78 SOTuesday, July 7 — Game 1 First Pitch: 1:15 p.m. CT Makeup of May 5 postponement Probable Pitchers: RHP Jacob Misiorowski vs. Cardinals TBA Misiorowski: 9-4, 1.47 ERA, 156 SOTuesday, July 7 — Game 2 First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. CT Probable Pitchers: Brewers TBA vs. Cardinals TBAWednesday, July 8 First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. CT Probable Pitchers: LHP Kyle Harrison vs. Cardinals TBA Harrison: 8-1, 2.82 ERA, 99 SOThursday, July 9 First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. CT Probable Pitchers: Brewers TBA vs. Cardinals TBA 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: <a href="http://www.cardinalchronicle.com" data-mce-href="http://www.cardinalchronicle.com">www.cardinalchronicle.com</a>Photo Credit: Dustin May, St. Louis Cardinals | | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cardinals Open Critical Five-Game Set Against the 1st Place Brewers

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Cardinals Open Critical Five-Game Set Against the 1st Pla...