Blog

Cardinal Chronicle Hunt for a Red October: Why the Cardinals’ Wild Card Chase Still Matters St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals have work to do. Nobody inside or outside the organization needs a pair of rose-colored glasses to see that.The offense has gone quiet at the wrong time. The division games have started to feel heavier. The margin for error has tightened, and the recent trend has not exactly inspired anyone to start printing playoff tickets.But here is the part that cannot be ignored: the Cardinals still hold the third and final National League Wild Card spot.That matters.In the old days, being good but not great in late May might have felt like a warning sign more than an opportunity. Today, the postseason structure has changed the math. Twelve of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams now reach October. That is 40 percent of the league. Three division winners and three Wild Card teams make it from each league, with the top two division winners earning first-round byes while the remaining four clubs play a best-of-three Wild Card Series.That does not mean the Cardinals are safe. They are not. It does not mean they have clinched anything. They have not. It does not mean the front office should pretend the holes are not there.But it does mean the door is still open.And when the door is open, a franchise has to decide whether it wants to walk through it.For St. Louis, this season was never supposed to be about reckless spending or chasing headlines for the sake of it. The Cardinals have made it clear they are watching every penny. That is the reality of where the organization is right now.But watching every penny does not mean ignoring opportunity.A playoff race has value. October baseball brings added ticket revenue, concessions, parking, merchandise sales, sponsorship exposure, local buzz and renewed fan engagement. MLB’s postseason share system is tied to playoff gate receipts, meaning clubs that get into October participate in revenue that does not exist for teams sitting at home.That is the practical side of the argument. Winning sells.For a club trying to be careful financially, staying in the postseason hunt is not just good for morale. It is good business.The Cardinals do not need to empty the farm system. They do not need to pretend they are one superstar away from being the best team in baseball. But if they are still holding a Wild Card position as the trade deadline approaches, standing still would be hard to justify.A targeted move — a veteran starter, a reliable bat, bullpen depth, or whatever the roster clearly needs by then — could be the difference between fading quietly and giving the fan base a reason to believe.That is the reality of the expanded postseason. You do not have to be perfect in May. You do not have to dominate the league wire to wire. You have to stay close, get in, and give yourself a chance.The Cardinals know that better than most. This franchise’s history is full of seasons where October changed everything.Right now, they are not playing like a finished product. They are not playing like a club that can coast. They are not playing like a team with enough offense to survive many more nights like the ones they have had lately.But they are still in it.The standings say so. The format says so. The economics say so.The hunt for a Red October is alive.Now the Cardinals have to start playing like a club that wants to stay in it. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Hunt for a Red October: Why the Cardinals’ Wild Card Chase Still Matters

Cardinal Chronicle Brewers Blank Cardinals Again as McGreevy’s Margin Finally Runs Out St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurMILWAUKEE — The Cardinal Chronicle called this stretch the division gauntlet for a reason. Tuesday night showed why.St. Louis was shut out by Milwaukee, 6-0, at American Family Field, dropping the first two games of the series to the first-place Brewers and falling 3 1/2 games back in the National League Central. It was not just another quiet offensive night. It was another reminder that division games have a way of separating teams that are chasing from teams that are setting the pace. The Cardinals entered the game second in the division, 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee, and had been 5-2 against NL Central opponents on the road before the series continued to turn against them.Michael McGreevy came in as one of the better statistical stories in the Cardinals’ rotation, carrying a 2.40 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and a reputation for filling the strike zone without beating himself. But against Milwaukee, the thin line he has walked so well finally snapped. McGreevy allowed seven hits and a season-high five runs while striking out six, and the Brewers broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning.&nbsp;Kyle Harrison gave Milwaukee exactly what the Cardinals could not solve. The left-hander worked six shutout innings, allowed four hits, walked none and struck out two, extending his scoreless streak to 18 innings over his past three starts. Milwaukee’s bullpen finished the job as Grant Anderson, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill completed the shutout.&nbsp;The Brewers opened the scoring in the fourth when Jake Bauers homered. One inning later, the game got away from St. Louis. Christian Yelich led off the fifth with a double, Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang followed with walks, and William Contreras delivered the blow that changed the game — a two-run double that pushed Milwaukee ahead 3-0 and chased McGreevy. Garrett Mitchell followed later in the inning with a three-run homer, turning a manageable deficit into a 6-0 hole.&nbsp;For McGreevy, the issue was not effort or complete collapse. It was execution. His sinker, usually one of the pitches that helps him survive contact and produce ground balls, did not have its normal shape. McGreevy said afterward that the pitch was moving differently and that the Contreras double might have been a double-play ball if the sinker had carried its usual action.&nbsp;That is the hard part of evaluating McGreevy. His results have been better than some of the underlying metrics, and Tuesday night gave the Brewers a chance to expose that gap. He does not overpower hitters. He relies on sequencing, location and changing speeds with a deep pitch mix. When those ingredients are sharp, he can look like one of the steadiest young starters in the league. When one piece is off, especially against a disciplined division leader, the margin gets mighty small.&nbsp;The Cardinals’ offense offered little cover. St. Louis went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Against Harrison, there was no sustained pressure, no crooked inning, and no answer once Milwaukee stretched the lead.&nbsp;That has become the larger concern. The Cardinals have now dropped five of their last six, and the division portion of the schedule is starting to sting. They lost Monday’s opener 5-1, were shut out Tuesday, and now face the possibility of leaving Milwaukee swept before heading home for a weekend series against the Cubs.&nbsp;The Brewers did what first-place teams do. They pitched, defended, took advantage of walks, and buried a mistake when the door opened. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are still trying to prove they can do more than hang around the race.There is still plenty of season left, but these are the games that carry extra weight. Losing to Milwaukee in May does not end anything. Losing series after series inside the division is another matter.The Cardinals will try to avoid the sweep Wednesday afternoon, with Dustin May scheduled to start the series finale. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. Central on Cards.TV and KMOX. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Brewers Blank Cardinals Again as McGreevy’s Margin Finally Runs Out

The Cardinal Chronicle Mautz Returns to Memphis After Debut as Cardinals Shuffle Minor League System St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals used the usual Monday minor league pause to reset several pieces across the organization, making a series of affiliate moves, injured list assignments and releases that touched Memphis, Springfield, Peoria, Palm Beach and the Florida Complex League.The headline move at the major league level came one day later, with left-hander Brycen Mautz optioned back to Triple-A Memphis after making his major league debut Monday in Milwaukee. Mautz had been recalled from Memphis on May 24, then made his first appearance for St. Louis in the Cardinals’ 5-1 loss to the Brewers before being sent back to the Redbirds. (MLB.com)It was a quick trip, but not an empty one. Mautz reached the big leagues, took the ball in a major league game and now returns to Memphis with something no roster move can erase. He is officially a big leaguer.Below the major league level, the Cardinals continued their normal Monday housekeeping, the kind of movement that often comes when the system has an off day and the organization can reposition players before the next series begins.Infielder Jeremy Rivas was promoted from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis, a deserved step for a long-time Springfield Cardinal who has put in plenty of time in the Texas League. Rivas’ promotion also comes as infielder Miguel Villarroel was sent back down to Springfield from Memphis, giving the Cardinals a corresponding middle-infield adjustment between the top two affiliates. Minor League Baseball’s transaction page listed Rivas assigned to Memphis from Springfield and Villarroel assigned to Springfield from Memphis on May 25. (MLB.com)Right-hander Jason Savacool, who had been moved up to Memphis over the weekend, was returned to Peoria. Savacool’s brief Triple-A move looked more like organizational coverage than a permanent level change, and his return gives Peoria back one of its more useful right-handed arms.Memphis also placed right-hander Ian Bedell on the seven-day injured list. Bedell had recently been moved off the development list, but now shifts to the IL, another reminder that pitching depth is not just about who is performing — it is about who is still standing by the end of May.Catcher Paulo Asprilla was returned to the Florida Complex League from Palm Beach, continuing the Cardinals’ movement behind the plate at the lower levels. The transaction log showed multiple Asprilla moves involving Palm Beach and the FCL on May 25, reflecting the kind of roster paper shuffle that often happens around complex-league coverage. (MLB.com)Peoria also saw two right-handers released, with Sam Brodersen and Aaron Holiday let go. Those are the harder Monday moves — the ones that do not come with a new clubhouse, a promotion photo or a fresh opportunity at the next stop. They are part of the business, but they are never just paperwork for the players involved.For the Cardinals, the day amounted to a system-wide reset. Mautz returns to Memphis after checking off a career milestone. Rivas gets his first Triple-A opportunity. Villarroel heads back to Springfield. Savacool returns to Peoria. Bedell moves to the injured list. Asprilla slides back to the complex. And two Peoria arms are released as the organization continues sorting through depth, performance and roster fit.It was not a flashy transaction day, but it was the kind that tells you how an organization is managing its inventory. Promotions, demotions, injury coverage and releases all matter over a long season.The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports

Cardinals Use Monday Pause to Reshape Minor League Rosters

The Cardinal Chronicle Mautz Gets His Moment Before Returning to Memphis St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurBrycen Mautz’s first trip to the big leagues was brief, but it was still the kind of moment no roster move can erase.The St. Louis Cardinals optioned the left-handed pitcher back to Triple-A Memphis following his major league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, closing a short but meaningful chapter in what remains one of the more interesting pitching stories in the organization.Mautz made his debut Monday in Milwaukee during the Cardinals’ 5-1 loss to the Brewers, working out of the bullpen after a strange weekend that had already altered the club’s pitching plans. Originally lined up for a possible debut start before weather and roster maneuvering changed the picture, Mautz instead got his first major league opportunity in relief.&nbsp;The line was not spotless. Mautz allowed two earned runs over three innings, but he also recorded his first major league strikeouts and showed enough to remind the Cardinals why they protected him on the 40-man roster last November. His first career strikeout came on a slider to Joey Ortiz, a pitch that officially put his name into the major league record book.&nbsp;That matters.For every pitcher who reaches the majors, there is a first mound visit, a first sign from the catcher, a first hitter staring back from the box, and a first moment where the game stops being a dream and becomes a box score. Mautz has that now. He pitched in the big leagues. They can never take that away from him.The 24-year-old left-hander has been one of the Cardinals’ better developmental success stories over the past year. A 2022 second-round pick, Mautz has steadily worked his way into the club’s upper-level pitching picture and was named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025. His rise earned him a place on the 40-man roster and, eventually, his first call to St. Louis.&nbsp;His debut also came in a difficult spot. Milwaukee had control of the game, Jacob Misiorowski was overpowering the Cardinals’ lineup, and the Brewers were already leaning on momentum in front of their home crowd. Mautz was not being eased into a quiet inning in September. He was thrown into a division game on the road against a first-place club.&nbsp;That is a hard way to get your feet wet. It is also the big leagues.For the Cardinals, the decision to option Mautz back to Memphis appears more practical than punitive. St. Louis needed bullpen coverage during a choppy stretch of weather, postponements and reshuffled pitching plans. Mautz provided innings, got his debut, and now returns to Triple-A with something he did not have before: major league experience.The next step is simple, even if the work is not. He goes back to Memphis, keeps refining the command, keeps building innings, and waits for the next call. For a left-hander already on the 40-man roster, that next call may not be far away.For now, the transaction reads plainly: The St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Brycen Mautz to the Memphis Redbirds.But the fuller story reads better than that.Brycen Mautz came up, took the ball, made his major league debut, and walked away with his name permanently attached to a big league box score. For a young pitcher still trying to carve out his place, that is no small thing. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports<a href="http://www.cardinalchronical.com">www.cardinalchronical.com</a>&nbsp; ﻿

Mautz Gets His Moment Before Returning to Memphis

Cardinal Chronicle Jacob Odle Named The Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Week St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurJacob Odle continues to pitch like one of the fastest-rising arms in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system.The Palm Beach right-hander earns The Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Week honors after another dominant stretch, working 13 innings while allowing only two earned runs and striking out 25 batters.That is the number that jumps off the page.Twenty-five strikeouts in 13 innings is not ordinary production. It is not just getting outs. It is overpowering hitters. Odle allowed nine hits, walked five, gave up no home runs, and finished the week with a 1.38 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.Blake Aita made this a real race. The Peoria right-hander was outstanding, posting a 0.60 ERA and 0.73 WHIP over 15 innings, allowing just one earned run with 13 strikeouts and only two walks. In most weeks, that line is good enough to win the honor.But Odle’s strikeout dominance gave him the edge.The award does not go only to the lowest ERA. It goes to the pitcher who made the biggest statement, and Odle’s week was loud. He missed bats at an elite rate, kept the ball in the park, and continued to build on what has become one of the better early-season pitching stories in the Cardinals’ system.The 22-year-old right-hander has already worked his way into the conversation as one of the organization’s most underrated breakout arms. This week only strengthens that case.Odle’s recent run has been especially important because it has not been built on smoke and mirrors. The strikeouts are real. The ability to limit damage has been real. And the consistency from start to start has made him a legitimate contender for broader monthly honors as well.There were several strong pitching performances across the system. Jurrangelo Cijntje struck out 17 over 10 1/3 innings at Double-A Springfield. Brandt Thompson allowed only three hits over nine innings with 14 strikeouts. Pete Hansen and Brycen Mautz both gave Memphis steady work at Triple-A.Still, Odle stood above the group.When a pitcher strikes out nearly two batters per inning over a full week and allows only two earned runs, there is not much debate left.The Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Week: Jacob Odle, Palm Beach CardinalsRunner-up: Blake Aita, Peoria ChiefsOld School TakeThere is still no substitute for missing bats.You can talk about spin, shape, sequencing and all the modern language you want, but the old truth remains: when hitters walk back to the dugout without putting the ball in play, the pitcher is in charge.Jacob Odle was in charge this week. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Jacob Odle Named The Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Week

Cardinal Chronicle Tre Richardson III Named The Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Week St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurTre Richardson III did not just have a good week for Peoria. He had the kind of week that forces its way to the top of the report.The Peoria Chiefs designated hitter earns The Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Week honors after leading the top offensive performers in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system with a loud five-game stretch built on average, power and run production.Richardson went 8-for-16 for the week, hitting .500 with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, four runs scored, three walks and one stolen base. His 1.579 OPS was the best mark among the leading candidates, and his production came with the kind of middle-of-the-order impact that separates a hot week from an award-winning one.There were other strong cases.Josh Kross, also at High-A Peoria, made the race close after hitting .471 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, five walks and a 1.532 OPS over five games. Heriberto Caraballo continued to swing the bat well at Single-A Palm Beach, posting a .350 average, two home runs and six RBIs. Jesús Báez added three home runs for Peoria, while Blaze Jordan stayed steady at Triple-A Memphis with a .450 average and three doubles.But Richardson’s week had the most complete profile.He hit for average. He drove the ball for extra bases. He produced runs. He reached base. He even added a stolen base. In five games, Richardson supplied the kind of offensive pressure that changes innings and lengthens a lineup.The nine RBIs stood out most. Weekly awards can sometimes come down to raw production, and Richardson delivered it. His two home runs gave Peoria power, his two doubles kept traffic moving, and his .500 average showed he was not simply running into a couple of big swings. He was locked in throughout the week.Richardson has been one of the more intriguing bats to follow in the Cardinals’ system because of the strength and athleticism he brings to the lineup. This week, the results matched the tools.The Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Week: Tre Richardson III, Peoria ChiefsRunner-up: Josh Kross, Peoria ChiefsOld School TakeA good week gets noticed. A complete week gets honored.Tre Richardson III did more than hit a couple of home runs. He filled the scorebook, drove in runs and gave Peoria steady production across five games. That is winning baseball, and that is why he gets the nod. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Tre Richardson III Named The Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Week

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

Hunt for a Red October: Why the Cardinals’ Wild Card Chas...

Brewers Blank Cardinals Again as McGreevy’s Margin Finall...

Cardinals Use Monday Pause to Reshape Minor League Rosters

Mautz Gets His Moment Before Returning to Memphis

Jacob Odle Named The Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Week

Tre Richardson III Named The Cardinal Chronicle Player of...