Hochman: What just happened? Cardinals' hot bats cool off in final two games of Cubs series
Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Cubs coach Jonathan Mota makes an appeal to him after the final out of a game at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Well, after all that, they’re back where they started. Not the worst place to be. But man, after the first two games of the Cubs series, the Cardinals seemed destined to … sweep? At least to win the series, right?
But they didn’t score another run.
And so, the Cards remain 4 آ½ games back of the first-place Cubs.
As the series began, I wrote that the Cardinals are a good team, but this four-game series could “control their fate unlike any other.†After winning 8-2 in Game 1 and 8-7 in Game 2, it looked that way. But getting shut out in Games 3-4آ — at home! — shows the Cardinals aren’t a great team, yet. It was an uneven series with uneven Cardinals pitching and hitting. The only thing stable was the suddenly jaw-dropping defense of Alec Burleson, who made a quintet of catches worthy of social media.
This series was, frankly, an indication of what 2025 will continue to be. To quote Lars Nootbaar: “It’s going to be a battle.â€
But the Cards only play the Cubs 13 times with the newer scheduling, instead of the traditional 19, so أغر؟´«أ½ missed out on prime opportunities to pounce. Yes, Wednesday’s game was just, simply, bad. But the Cards were in it here at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon, if only by the main arbiter, that being runs scored. The Cards were down 2-0 for the majority of the game, but had mustered only one hit for the majority of the game, which was only good for a lone reason, that being a potential reference to Bob Uecker’s broadcasting character in “Major League.â€
Uecker: One hit, that’s all we got, one (bleep bleep) hit?
Producer: You can’t say (bleep bleep) on the air!
Uecker: Don’t worry, nobody’s listening.
The Cards, mercifully, mustered three total hits in the paltry performance on Thursday. Hat-tip to the Cubs starter and southpaw Shota Imanaga, but if you’re going to beat the best, you have to beat some of the best pitchers on the best.
Sure, the Cards could’ve used the injured Ivan Herrera (and even Jordan Walker) as a right-handed bat in the final two games. But if we’re playing the injury game, the Cubs could’ve used their All-Star ace Justin Steele, who is out for the year.
A push in the standings didn’t happen, so the series wasn’t a success. But the Cards showed they’re unafraid of the Cubs and can compete with the Cubs, so that’s quite encouraging, especially since أغر؟´«أ½ plays at Chicago from July 4-6.
“Thankfully, we get to see them in a week, and then kind of go at it again, duke it out more,†Nootbaar said.
Hopefully for أغر؟´«أ½, the Cards won’t have Erick Fedde pitching in that series. He’s really slipping, it seems. He was the losing pitcher on Wednesday night. His ERA is 4.11 and his expected ERA, as computed on Baseball Savant, is 4.99 and in the 10th percentile (100th being best).
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras falls to the ground after being hit by a pitch on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Thursday’s afternoon loss was particularly brutal because it was such a brutally hot day outsideآ — the fans held on, hoping for, dare they, consecutive hits. Finally, in the ninth inning, two Cards indeed got on baseآ — Burleson smacked a double and Willson Contreras was hit on the top of his hand by an errant fastball. But Nolan Arenado struck out, Thomas Saggese struck out and Nolan Gorman struck out.
Cubs win. Cubs win.
The Cards lost 3-0آ — they hadn’t been shutout in back-to-back games since September of 2022. And it was the fifth-straight time at home that أغر؟´«أ½ lost a series finale.
Now, before they reach Wrigley, there are games to be won. Cleveland is right around .500 — and Cards ace Sonny Gray pitches Friday. And after that, there are three games against putrid Pittsburgh. But little is guaranteed with the Cardinals — this is a good team, but not a great one. They have to prove their greatness first.
Lars Nootbaar sidelined by side pain he tried to swing his way through: Cardinals Extra
Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar sits out of a game on Thursday, June 26, 2025, against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
A few days after powering his way out of a prolonged slump and through some soreness in his left side, Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar was sidelined by a proactive treatment to reduce the pain completely.
Nootbaar received an anti-inflammatory shot late Tuesday night to address an injury in his left ribcage. The treatment required 48 hours of inactivity, leaving him unavailable for the final two games of the series against the Cubs. The plan was to give him two days so that he could return to the lineup Friday night in Cleveland.
That will hinge on how comfortable he is during pregame workouts.
“Feeling better and better every day,†Nootbaar said after the Cardinals’ 3-0 loss Thursday afternoon to the Cubs. “They say Day 3 is really the day that you can start feeling the difference. Hopefully wake up and be feeling a lot better. Ideally try to get back out there as soon as possible.
“Wanted to nip it in the bud as much as possible.â€
Nootbaar homered in the first two games of the Cubs’ visit to Busch Stadium this week and surged out of a weeklong search for his swing. In the five games before receiving the shot, Nootbaar hit .318 with a .773 slugging percentage and a 1.196 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). He went 7 for 22, and three of those hits were homers.
The Cardinals’ outfielder first felt soreness along his ribcage in Milwaukee, right in the nadir of his struggles. He was out of the lineup during that series, returning to everyday play for this homestand until Tuesday night. Nootbaar said he was not limited much by the injury, but there was concern that it would worsen if not treated. Games against two lefty Cubs starters offered a chance for that treatment.
The Cardinals, preferring to keep the Cubs thinking Nootbaar would be available off the bench, disclosed he was unavailable Thursday morning when he was not in the lineup for a second consecutive day.
Cubs core vexes Cards
In an 8-0 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday night, there wasn’t much the Chicago Cubs couldn’t do right.
The bats were hot. The defense was firing on all cylinders, especially the infield, which didn’t let many baseballs visit the outfield. On the mound, Matthew Boyd strengthened his All-Star candidacy, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just three hits. The performance marked his 11th quality start of the season.
“It felt like the game was over by the fifth inning just how he was pitching,†Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He just never gave them any hope to score. No rallies going on. Nothing. It was just a really, really well-pitched game.â€
But it was a pair of Cardinal killers who highlighted Chicago’s offensive onslaught. And it didn’t take one of them long to do so.
On the first pitch of the game from Erick Fedde, Ian Happ put an inside fastball into the right field bleachers.
“Can’t ask for a better way to start that game,†Cubs catcher Reese McGuire said. “It kind of gave us a little breath right there, and (we were) able to get in the driver’s seat early.â€
Happ’s instant offense bettered an already-glistening set of numbers against أغر؟´«أ½. His career slugging percentage of .569 against the Cardinals is his third-best against any MLB team entering Thursday. His 27 home runs against the Cardinals ranks behind only Cincinnati for his most home runs out of Chicago’s four National League Central compadres.
In the No. 2 spot, another All-Star candidate continued playing at a high level for the Cubs. Following a 3-for-4 evening Tuesday, Kyle Tucker went 2 for 4 on Wednesday, including a solo home run in the third inning.
Entering Thursday, Tucker had only played seven games against the Cardinals. But in those seven games, Tucker is batting .480, and his on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) sits at .800. He has 12 hits with two home runs and 10 RBIs, and both homers came in this series.
Hampson eager for opportunity
June has ushered in blistering heat and a splash of injuries for the Cardinals.
For Garrett Hampson, he enters أغر؟´«أ½ seemingly fresh as a daisy.
“I’m so pumped to be here,†Hampson said.
The journeyman, who’s been on five teams since 2023 after five seasons in Colorado, was claimed off of waivers Tuesday after being designated for assignment by Cincinnati two days prior. Hampson joined the Cardinals during a heated rivalry series against the Cubs.
“I feel like I’m coming in at a really exciting time here,†Hampson said. “The fans seem to be super into it. Like I said, I’m just pumped to contribute.â€
Wednesday’s contest likely didn’t go how Hampson expected. After starting the game in center field, Hampson moved to shortstop in the top of the eighth inning as part of a slew of defensive changes. In the top of the ninth, Hampson replaced Matt Svanson on the mound. He had the most efficient inning of the night for the Cardinals, retiring the side on just three pitches.
Hampson also made a little history Wednesday night. He became the first Cardinals position player to pitch in his team debut since Cody McKay on April 8, 2004. He also became the first player in MLB history to appear exclusively at center field, shortstop and pitcher in the same game.
Before the game, Hampson spoke of a desire to be flexible. Even amid defeat, that flexibility stretched beyond what many likely thought would happen Wednesday.
“It’s really cool,†Hampson said of being claimed by the Cardinals. “I try to soak it in the best I can. I’m just doing anything I can to help the team win and stay out of the way. These guys are rolling. It’s fun to join a team that has high hopes for the postseason. Hopefully, we can get it done.â€
Fulmer DFA’d by Cubs
Ahead of Shota Imanaga’s much-anticipated return to the mound Thursday, Cubs reliever Michael Fulmer was designated for assignment in order to make room for the 2024 All-Star.
Fulmer had been called up from Class AAA Iowa on Monday and made two appearances against the Cardinals this week. In a combined three innings of work Monday and Wednesday, Fulmer allowed just two hits.
Imanaga was activated from the 15-day injured list after sustaining a left hamstring injury May 4 while running to cover first base. He made a strong rehab start Friday for the Class AAA Iowa Cubs, tallying eight strikeouts while shutting out the Nashville Sounds in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Heâ€کll look to pick up where he left off, as he sported a 2.82 ERA in 44 2/3 innings pitched entering Thursday.
'I'm not trying to fight them': Cardinals' Willson Contreras apologizes for postgame actions vs. Cubs
Temperatures, tensions flare but settle nothing as Cubs shut out Cardinals, split series
Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Cubs coach Jonathan Mota makes an appeal to him after the final out of a game at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
After all of that ruckus the Cardinals created in the first two games of this season’s first archrivalry series, by the end the Cubs’ four-day visit, the offense had gone silent, the standings had stagnated and really only one statement was made.
To be continued.
The Cardinals began the second half of the season much like they spent most of the first 81 games of the regular season: loitering in contention but not yet challenging for the lead. Their scoreless streak reached 22 innings by the time the ninth inning ended in a 3-0 loss to the Cubs on Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium. With home runs galore and wins in the first two games, the Cardinals had a chance to take the series and carve into the first-place Cubs’ lead in the National League Central. The Cubs shut out the Cardinals in consecutive games to split the series, ultimately leaving أغر؟´«أ½ in the exact same spot they arrived, up 4 1/2 games.
“I think we’re even,†Cardinals first baseman and former Cubs catcher Willson Contreras said. “We won the first two games. The second game was a battle. The last two games didn’t go the way we wanted them to. They played better than us the last two games. They deserve to win.â€
The Cardinals did lot let the Cubs leave town without a fight — nearly.
It was more of a spat.
Held to one hit during his five scoreless innings by Cubs lefty Shoto Imanaga, the Cardinals mustered a late threat in the ninth inning that ignited with a furious Contreras. Alec Burleson roped a double off Cubs closer Daniel Palencia to bring Contreras up. Palencia misfired on a 100.5 mph fastball that zipped up and in on Contreras. Conscious of his two fractures last season and many bruises on pitches already this season, Contreras was livid after the fastball skimmed his knuckles.
He shouted a phrase that included two words: “Throw strikes.â€
Palencia heeded the advice and struck out the next three Cardinals he faced to secure his eighth save. When he celebrated the final strikeout and the victory, Palencia turned toward Contreras at first. Contreras took issue. He yelled at the right-hander. A coach got between him and the pitcher. Both dugouts emptied. But not much happened other than an interruption of the Cubs’ handshake line as they congratulated themselves on holding serve in the أغر؟´«أ½ heat.
“I know I reacted the way I reacted — nobody wants a fastball at your face,†Contreras said later in the Cardinals- clubhouse. “I know he’s not trying to. I just said, â€کThrow strikes.’ My reaction was bad. I take that back. I apologize to the Chicago Cubs for the way I reacted. I am not trying to get another broken bone.
“I’m not trying to fight them. I’m not trying to fight anybody.â€
There wasn’t much verve to the Thursday’s series finale until the late innings — at least not for the Cardinals. That was predictable. They were sledding against the probabilities.
The sweltering temperatures played a part in the power-packed start, and the actual baseballs behaved all week like a force multiplier for both teams. (Andre Pallante said the way the ball soared did not change his approach as a ground-ball pitcher. One of his teammates said he had to adjust after watching the ball fly all week.) The Cardinals hit four home runs to win Monday’s series opener, and all three came from left-handed batters after a right-handed batter reached base. They hit seven homers total, and all but one came from a left-handed hitter.
Sense a trend?
The final two games of the series were against the Cubs’ top two left-handed starters, Matthew Boyd and Imanaga (4-2). That gave the Cubs the edge against the Cardinals’ top producers in the series, and then the Cardinals further complicated their lineup with averages. Lars Nootbaar, who hit two homers in the first two games, missed the final two games with soreness within his left ribcage. Ivan Herrera, a key right-handed bat for the Cardinals to counterpunch against lefty starters, missed the entire series due to a slightly torn hamstring.
The Cardinals plucked a right-handed hitter, Garrett Hampson, off waivers to add during the series, and he and his .157 average started twice.
He also got the Cardinals’ second hit of the day Thursday.
It came in the eighth inning.
Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan reacts in frustration after popping up for an out on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the eighth inning of a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
“We weren’t able to string together a whole lot offensively,†manager Oliver Marmol said. “Good, competitive game. They beat us. ... We played three really good games, and (Wednesday’s 8-0 loss) I wouldn’t count that as a good one. As far as our style of play and how we matched up against those guys, I’m pretty pleased. We went into it wanting to take all four. We weren’t able to do that, obviously. I still like the way we competed this series. I really do.â€
The Cardinals’ 82nd game of the season captured a lot about who they’ve been in the first half of the schedule — minus all the runs, however.
In the first half, the Cardinals have a top-seven offense when measured by runs scored, but they get there despite a bottom half team when it comes to slugging percentage and home runs. They bombard teams with hits. Only the Dodgers and Cubs have more than the Cardinals’ 705 hits in the National League. The persisting pressure that puts on opponents contributes to their 20 come-from-behind wins, the 20th of which came Tuesday against the Cubs. The Cardinals are at their best when pairing hits in bulk with defense in gold, and when they did not get many hits Thursday, no amount of defense was going to rescue them. Even the best glove cannot steal a run to win 0 to minus-1.
And sometimes the grounders get through.
Pallante allowed two runs on seven hits through five workable innings. Michael Busch hit a full-count fastball with two outs in the second to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead and do what no Busch or Bush had ever done before at any of the three Busch stadiums. He’s the first player who shares the name with the Cardinals’ three ballparks to hit a home run at one, according to research by the team’s media relations staff.
Busch scored the first two runs of the game, and the second came in a classic pitch-to-contact inning for Pallante (5-4). Ah, the whims of balls in play. Busch lined a single to center, but the Cubs loaded the bases when two ground balls found seams. When No. 9 hitter Matt Shaw sizzled a liner toward left that would have cleared the bases it found a glove — Nolan Arenado’s. Given the gift of a second out, Pallante then walked leadoff hitter Ian Happ to force home a run.
The Cubs swiped their third run with a classic ploy the Cardinals like to pull with runners at the corner. The runner at first, Dansby Swanson, broke from first to draw the throw — and then the runner at third, Pete Crow-Armstrong, was off for home. Crow-Armstrong, one of the swiftest players in the league, didn’t need Swanson to draw much attention before scoring.
An inning earlier, Crow-Armstrong made a sliding catch in center at the warning track to rob Nolan Gorman of a runs-scoring double and the Cardinals of a different looking scoreboard.
There was a lot of sound at the start of the series and some fury toward the end, but the rivals played to a draw and teams on the field at the end Thursday was symbolic after the split.
Nothing’s settled
“It’s going to be a battle,†Nootbaar said. “Thankfully, we get to see them in a week. Duke it out more.â€
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals shut out by Cubs 3-0 as they split the series in Busch Stadium
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by first base coach Stubby Clapp on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after the final out of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Masyn Winn throws the bat in frustration on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after popping up in the eighth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras falls to the ground after being hit by a pitch on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan strikes out to end the third inning on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly returns to the dugout in a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Nolan Arenado returns to the dugout on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after striking out with two runners on base in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Chicago Cubs batter Michael Busch is congratulated by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a game against the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras recoils after being hit by a pitch on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Chicago Cub coach Jonathan Mota makes an appeal to him after the final out of a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Cubs coach Jonathan Mota makes an appeal to him after the final out of a game at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan reacts in frustration after popping up for an out on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the eighth inning of a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Garrett Hampson is congratulated by first base coach Stubby Clapp on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after hitting a single the eighth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero hands the ball over to manager Oliver Marmol on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as he comes out of a game against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar sits out of a game on Thursday, June 26, 2025, against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar sits out of a game on Thursday, June 26, 2025, against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Nolan Arenado watches a low pitch go by on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the fourth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly greets أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Nolan Arenado on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as he comes to bat in the first inning of a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras chats briefly with Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly on Thursday, June 26, 2025, while the home plate umpire is away from base in a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitching coach Dusty Blake arrives at the mound for a conference with pitcher Andre Pallante and catcher Pedro Pages on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after the bases were loaded in the fourth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages waits as Chicago Cubs runner Michael Busch crosses the plate on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the fourth inning of a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Masyn Winn singles on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante throws on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante collects himself as Chicago Cubs batter Michael Busch rounds the bases on Thursday, June 26, 2025, on a first-inning home run in a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero chats with catcher Pedro Pages left, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as he comes out of a game against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Frustrated Cardinals’ scoreless streak reaches 22 innings as Cubs cinch shutout, split series
After a power-packed beginning to the series that put the Cardinals in position to really chew into the Cubs’ division lead and make a case as a challenger, the home team finished quietly right back where it started.
The Cardinals went the final 22 innings of the Cubs’ four-day visit without scoring a run, and when they finally got the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning Thursday with no outs ... they also did not score a run. Three consecutive strikeouts left them shut out for the second consecutive game in a 3-0 loss at Busch Stadium.
When the game ended, some fight did surface.
Willson Contreras, who was hit on the hand by an up-and-in pitch in the ninth, shouted at the Cubs and momentarily appeared ready to confront Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia. The Cubs reliever celebrated his third strikeout of the inning and securing the win, and as he did so looked toward Contreras at first base. That prompted Contreras’ response, and the dugouts emptied. No clash came from the eventآ — just an interruption of the Cubs’ victory handshake line.
The series split meant the Cubs left أغر؟´«أ½ exactly where they were when they arrivedآ — with a 4 1/2-game lead in the division.
The teams meet again in Chicago for the Fourth of July weekend.
Cardinals starter Andre Pallante limited the Cubs to two runs on seven hits through his five innings. He had some ground balls slip through that helped prolong one inning, and he needed 94 pitches to collect the 15 outs. He did get a dozen swings and misses, and when the Cubs had a chance to break the game wide open, Pallante resisted.
He got the ground ball to neutralize a threat and buy time for an offense that never arrived.
The Cardinals managed one hit against Cubs starter Shoto Imanaga in his return from the injured list and a hamstring injury. Imanaga pitched five scoreless innings in his first appearance in the majors since May 4. The Cardinals’ second batter of the first inning, Masyn Winn, singled off Imanaga, and the Cardinals did not get another hit in the game until they were wading into the Cubs bullpen.
Their third of the game led off the ninth. The plunk of Contreras followed, and then the inning fizzled like so many before it without a run appearing.
2 walks plus 1 sprint means zero runs
The scoreless streak entered its 20th inning when former Cubs catcher Contreras drew a one-out walk from reliever Brad Keller. Contreras enthusiastically flipped his bat toward the Cardinals dugoutآ — and a team held to one hit through the first seven innings and no hits since the first inning had a base runner.
Contreras quickly became the first Cardinal to see scoring position when he advanced on a wild pitch from Keller.
Contreras’ spot at first was taken by Nolan Arenado after his walk.
A groundout cost the Cardinals their lead runner, but still they were able to get the go-ahead run to the plate in Nolan Gorman. The Cardinals’ resurgent slugger, who is seeing more playing time due to his performance and injuries elsewhere, drilled a pitch from the right-handed Keller toward deep center field. The ball left Gorman’s bat at 100.6 mph, and it traveled an estimated 376 feet, according to Statcast.
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, one of the swiftest fielders in the league, ran 378 feet to reach the ball and had to slide at the warning track to reach back and make the catch. The would-be game-tying single instead was a sliding catch in center.
A first at Busch by a Busch
In his eight previous games at أغر؟´«أ½â€™ downtown ballpark that shares his name, Cubs first baseman Michael Busch hit .182 with one double mixed into his six hits.
In his ninth game at Busch, Busch did what no Busch or Bush ever had.
In the second inning, Busch lifted a full-count, four-seam fastball into the seats for the first run of Thursday’s ballgame. The home run was the first hit by a player with the last name Busch or Bush at any of the three Busch Stadiums that the Cardinals have called home, according to research by the Cardinals’ media relations staff.
With two outs, Busch worked through a seven-pitch at-bat against Pallante to get the fastball he hit for his 13th homer of the season. That would lead the Cardinals this season, and Busch hit sixth for the Cubs. Busch would later single off of Pallante in the fourth inning, and through 6 1/2 innings the runs scored by Busch were the only runs scored at Busch for the day.
Whims of contact pitching
In the fourth inning, Pallante experienced the whims of being a contact pitcher.
He got the ground balls that he wanted from three of the first four batters he faced. Two slipped through, threading between infielders for base hits. Coupled with a sharp line-drive single by Busch, and the Cubs had the bases loaded with one out and only one hard-hit ball. Busch’s would not be the last line drive of the inning.
That came off the bat of Matt Shaw.
But, as if compensating for the ground balls that got through, Shaw’s liner was right at third baseman Arenado to give Pallante an opportunity to escape the bases-loaded mess. Instead of a double down the line to clear the bases, Shaw’s liner found Arenado’s glove for the second out of the inning.
Pallante did not take advantage.
He walked leadoff hitter Ian Happ on four pitches to force home the second run of the game and force Pallante to face one of the top hitters in the majors with the bases loaded.
True to the inning, Kyle Tucker hit a ground ball to end the inning.
Cubs steal an insurance run
The kind of double steal the Cardinals sometimes try to bait an opponent into chaos they had pulled against themآ — with the added sprinkle of Crow-Armstrong speed.
With former Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly at the plate and runners at the corners in the eighth inning, the Cubs put a runner in position. Dansby Swanson broke from first as if to steal second. Reliever Kyle Leahy turned and threw to first.
The caper was afoot.
When the throw went to first, Crow-Armstrong broke from third.
With his elite speed, Contreras had the choice to throw home and attempt an out or stick with the rundown of Swanson and assure an out. Instead of throwing home, Contreras threw to shortstop Masyn Winn. Swanson milked the rundown for a bit more time that wasn’t necessary as Crow-Armstrong slid home for the Cubs’ 3-0 lead. Swanson’s caught stealing between the bases means Crow-Armstrong, by rule, is not credited with a steal of home.
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals shut out by Cubs 3-0 as they split the series in Busch Stadium
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by first base coach Stubby Clapp on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after the final out of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Masyn Winn throws the bat in frustration on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after popping up in the eighth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras falls to the ground after being hit by a pitch on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan strikes out to end the third inning on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly returns to the dugout in a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Nolan Arenado returns to the dugout on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after striking out with two runners on base in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Chicago Cubs batter Michael Busch is congratulated by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a game against the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras recoils after being hit by a pitch on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Chicago Cub coach Jonathan Mota makes an appeal to him after the final out of a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals batter Willson Contreras is restrained by teammates on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as Cubs coach Jonathan Mota makes an appeal to him after the final out of a game at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan reacts in frustration after popping up for an out on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the eighth inning of a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Garrett Hampson is congratulated by first base coach Stubby Clapp on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after hitting a single the eighth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero hands the ball over to manager Oliver Marmol on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as he comes out of a game against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar sits out of a game on Thursday, June 26, 2025, against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar sits out of a game on Thursday, June 26, 2025, against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Nolan Arenado watches a low pitch go by on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the fourth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly greets أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Nolan Arenado on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as he comes to bat in the first inning of a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Willson Contreras chats briefly with Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly on Thursday, June 26, 2025, while the home plate umpire is away from base in a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitching coach Dusty Blake arrives at the mound for a conference with pitcher Andre Pallante and catcher Pedro Pages on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after the bases were loaded in the fourth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages waits as Chicago Cubs runner Michael Busch crosses the plate on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the fourth inning of a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals batter Masyn Winn singles on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante throws on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante collects himself as Chicago Cubs batter Michael Busch rounds the bases on Thursday, June 26, 2025, on a first-inning home run in a game at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero chats with catcher Pedro Pages left, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, as he comes out of a game against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
What lefty John King did in Wednesday’s dud to set up Cardinals for series finale vs. Cubs
Cardinals relief pitcher John King delivers to the plate in the fifth inning of a game against the Cubs on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
Even before the question was finished about how soon he would forget a loss like Wednesday’s dud to the Cubs, Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan interrupted to say he had.
“Gone,†he said.
The question continued.
“Over with,†Donovan interjected. “Already forgot about it.â€
The Cubs socked three homers early, bruised starter Erick Fedde for seven runs and charged away with an 8-0 victory at Busch Stadium that gave them a chance to split the four-game series and leave أغر؟´«أ½ with the same lead they had when they arrived at Busch Stadium. After two memorable, assertive wins for the Cardinals against their archrivals, it was, by many metrics, an utterly forgettable evening for the home club, except for something tucked discreetly in the middle innings.
What happened between the fourth and sixth innings will be worth remembering.
Even Donovan said so.
What John King did Wednesday set up the Cardinals for Thursday.
“You only have so many arms down there, and he’s thrown a lot lately,†Donovan said. “He comes in tonight and saves the bullpen. I know some guys will give him some love because that’s huge. I cannot imagine being a one-inning or 1 1/2-inning guy and then gutting it our for a couple of innings.â€
At some point in the mess that the shutout became for the Cardinals, Wednesday’s game became less about salvaging it and more about priming the bullpen for Thursday and the full-court press manager Oliver Marmol prepared to use with a lead to take the series. To pull that off, he had to keep some of his most reliable arms — especially Phil Maton, JoJo Romero and closer Ryan Helsley — out of the game and also ready some bridge options.
King was essential with his 2 1/3 innings and 37 pitches.
The outing was longer than any he’d had since 2023, and the lefty had not thrown that many pitches in an appearance since he was with Texas in 2022. The long outing came three days after he pitched on three consecutive days in three consecutive wins.
“I feel like relievers — especially middle relievers — you have to be ready for everything,†King said late Wednesday night in the Cardinals clubhouse. “I take pride in being available every day, and when you’re in that spot, you want to pitch as much as you can.â€
The preference would have been for Fedde to shoulder the extra innings and any other welts on his ERA, but a bases-loaded spot in the fourth ejected him from the outing.
The Cubs announced their intentions on the first pitch of the game when Ian Happ, on his way to three RBIs, drilled a solo home run. By the end of the third inning, the Cubs had five hits on Fedde, four for extra bases, three for homers and a 4-0 lead. For weeks, Fedde (3-7) has been trying to regain a consistent feel for his sweeper. His plan Wednesday was to throw it harder, firmer.
And he did. Its average velocity was up almost 1 mph, and he touched 85.3 mph with it.
Without it over the past several starts, Fedde has been “absolutely leaning on my cutter,†he said. The Cubs keyed on it.
Their average exit velocity against Fedde’s cutter was 98.8. Overall, the Cubs had eight balls in play at 100 mph or faster off the bat. Of the 17 they put in play against Fedde in his 3 2/3 innings, 13 left the bat at 95 mph or more. The fourth inning unraveled around three singles and three stolen bases as the Cubs widened their lead to 5-0, and at that point, the game shifted for Fedde.
He wasn’t going to save his ERA.
He had to save the bullpen some mileage.
“I think as a starter, when things don’t go your way early, your biggest goal is to go deep and save the ’pen,†Fedde said. “That was the goal after I gave up five. Try to go as deep as possible. Unfortunately, I didn’t do that either.â€
A walk to Seiya Suzuki after singles by Happ and Kyle Tucker with two outs loaded the bases on Fedde in the fourth. Marmol emerged from the dugout and called for the lefty, King. One of the game’s leading ground-ball-getters from the left side, King often appears from the Cardinals against left-handed batters in middle or late innings with runners on base.
On Wednesday, that was only the start of his assignment.
It took him one pitch to tidy up the inning.
Left-handed batter Pete Crow-Armstrong skipped a grounder to second base for the fourth inning’s final out. King left all three runners he inherited marooned.
From there, the Cardinals needed him to carry the game as deep as he could because every out he collected was one less from a reliever they wanted available in the finale.
“You know the situation,†King said. “You want to do everything you can, especially during this long stretch and you’re in the middle of two long stretches. You just want to keep everyone fresh and save the bullpen, you know? If they need me to go out there and throw two, three, four, innings, whatever — I’ll do my best at that.â€
A subplot to the innings plopped out the bullpen Wednesday was the bind the Cardinals have potentially put themselves in with their roster due to so much recent churn. The Cardinals optioned four pitchers to Class AAA Memphis during this homestand, and none of them can return for 15 days unless there is an injury or doubleheader. Chris Roycroft has yet to reach his minimum stay down there, and he’s joined by right-handed relievers Andre Granillo, Gordon Graceffo, and Roddery Munoz as ineligible to return as part of the churn for several more days.
Newly added to the bullpen Wednesday afternoon, Matt Svanson pitched two scoreless innings after King and before first-time Cardinal Garrett Hampson added pitcher to his debut game. Hampson started in center, moved to shortstop and finished his first game as a Cardinal on the mound. He got three outs on three pitches to alleviate one inning from the bullpen.
The Cardinals could have asked more from Svanson, but then flipping him to Memphis for a fresh arm would mean adding him to the list of unavailable arms and calling up, possibly, Ryan Fernandez. Marmol downplayed the likelihood of that Tuesday.
What all of that added up to the obvious.
They needed King to get through this night.
The fifth inning wobbled on the Cardinals when a wild pitch turned a strikeout into a runner at first. A dribbler in front of the plate was misplayed by catcher Yohel Pozo, but because he wasn’t tagged with an error, the eventual run was earned for King. The Cub who scored that run was also the one who struck out. In the sixth inning, King did what he usually does — and got three groundouts. He was in the game long enough to even experiment with a curveball he’s been working to give another look.
He got a swing and miss with it.
The only pitcher in the game who got more groundouts than King was Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd during his six scoreless innings. He got six. King got five. Both struck out three. King pitched more in one game than he had in his previous four combined, and because he pushed for four outs and then seven outs, he helped assure that what happened in a lost game did not spill over into a lost series.
“You’re never out of it until Oli comes and shakes your hand,†King said. “You’re never checking out until that happens.â€
Photos: أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals host Chicago Cubs in third game of four game homestand
Cardinals starting pitcher Erick Fedde returns to the dugout after being removed from the game against the Cubs in the fifth inning after giving up seven runs Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals shortstop Thomas Saggese catches a fly ball against the Cubs on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde (12) sits in the dugout after giving up 3 runs in the second inning during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde (12) throws a pitch during the during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde (12) leaves the mound after giving up 3 runs in the second inning during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (40)drops his helmet after being struck out during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) is safe at first base after a dropped ball during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
Chicago Cubs Matt Shaw (6) slides into second base during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo (63) hits the ball and is out at first base during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
Cardinals relief pitcher John King delivers to the plate in the fifth inning of a game against the Cubs on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (16) hits the ball for single during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo (63) hits the ball and is caught out during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals utility player Garrett Hampson (13) catches a ball for an out during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals utility player Garrett Hampson (13) throws a pitch during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This is his first game with the Cardinals.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals utility player Garrett Hampson (13) celebrates with his team after throwing three pitches and getting three outs during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals pitcher Matt Svanson (49) throws a pitch during the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs in Busch Stadium in أغر؟´«أ½ on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
'Already forgot about it': Brendan Donovan not dwelling on Cardinals' loss to Cubs
The أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals' bats went dry with runners on base repeatedly as they were shut out 3-0 to split the series against the Chicago Cubs …
After overnight in hospital, Jordan Walker recovering from appendicitis: Cardinals Extra
Before taking batting practice Tuesday afternoon, Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker felt discomfort near his abdomen that did not subside and ultimately put him the hospital overnight for observation.
Walker was diagnosed with appendicitis, but because of the early awareness, he was able to receive treatment, avoid surgery and return home Wednesday morning, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. The Cardinals’ 23-year-old right fielder is expected to receive four or five days of rest, and the team put him on the 10-day injured list to also allow for him to take some rehab at-bats in the minors, if needed.
“Spoke to him, and he is in better shape,†Marmol said.
This is Walker’s second stint on the IL this month. He recently returned from a wrist injury and found his playing time reduced because of the performance of Alec Burleson and others. Walker has started five of the Cardinals’ 12 games since his return, and in his 18 at-bats since the previous IL stint, he’s batting .167 with three singles, a walk and six strikeouts. He would be likely to start at least one of the final two games against the Cubs and their left-handed starting pitchers.
Walker was getting ready for batting practice Tuesday when he told coaches and team trainers about an ache in his side. The pain lingered — and then intensified. A team doctor at the ballpark had Walker go through some movement tests to determine the possible cause of the pain and try to rule out any issue with the appendix. Walker had imaging that confirmed the irritation and what Marmol called “early signs†of appendicitis.
Marmol said the young outfielder received antibiotics and other treatments and was asked to remain at the hospital.
“They felt like holding him over night was important,†Marmol said.
That meant the Cardinals quietly played their 8-7 victory against the Cubs with a roster shy of three players. New addition and utility fielder Garrett Hampson had yet to arrive in أغر؟´«أ½. Michael McGreevy’s spot start meant the bullpen was down to seven relievers instead of eight. And Walker was at the hospital.
In April 2011, Cardinals Hall of Famer Matt Holliday had an appendectomy after going 3 for 4 with a home run on opening day. He returned to the lineup within 10 days.
To take Walker’s spot on the active roster, the Cardinals promoted infielder Jose Fermin. Fermin won the International League’s player of the week award this past week after hitting .550 with two homers and nine RBIs for the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds. This season, Fermin is batting .308 with a .914 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), five homers and 19 stolen bases for the Cardinals’ top affiliate.
McGreevy's options running out
As advertised by the team every time it promotes McGreevy for an appearance as the team’s No. 6 starter, the right-hander was optioned back to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
He was replaced on the active roster by right-hander Matt Svanson to give the bullpen a fresh arm. Because players are required to spend a minimum number of days in the minors after being optioned — except in the cases of an injury replacement or doubleheader — the Cardinals have optioned out pitchers Gordon Graceffo, Andre Granillo, Roddery Munoz and now McGreevy in the past week and now must go at least a week without promoting them.
The mandatory stays begin to overlap and landlock roster choices.
Teams are also limited to optioning a player five times in a single season before they must pass through waivers. Wednesday’s option was McGreevy’s third. He pitched 4 2/3 innings for a no-decision Tuesday night, and he has been superb in three starts for the Cardinals and four appearances, three of which have been against the Dodgers, Cubs and Mets. McGreevy has a 4.22 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings in the majors, and he’s 7-1 with a 2.51 ERA in a dozen Triple-A starts.
Asked if the team is nearing a point where they have to decide where McGreevy fits in the majors, Marmol said: “We’re not there yet.â€
Asked by the Post-Dispatch if using him in relief might be in play, the manager stated: “That’s not on our radar right now.â€
â€کMost guys just play it safe’
The finishing play of Tuesday night’s one-run comeback victory was a bounding grounder toward shortstop that Masyn Winn admitted he was “nervous†watching unfold.
Nolan Arenado cut in front of his teammate to grab the grounder with his bare hand and, in the same motion, whipped a throw to first for the final out of an 8-7 win.
The tying run was at third. The safer play was to use the glove.
“It takes huge courage to do that, it really does,†Marmol said. “Most guys would just play it safe and glove it and throw it across. And if the runner beats it, he beats it. I did the best I could. It was a slow roller and a fast runner. It is what it is. Whereas he wanted the game to end. And he was willing to risk it and he’s that confident in what he’s practiced a million times. I love that about it. That’s what makes him a Hall of Famer is stuff like that.â€
Tony in town to promote event
Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa has been visiting the ballpark this week as he promotes a July event in أغر؟´«أ½ that is a celebration of the Cardinals' championships during his run of the dugout.
On July 16 at Stifel Theater, La Russa expects a dozen former players to attend and participate in an evening hosted by Joe Buck. La Russa said Wednesday afternoon that he’s bringing Will Clark and David Freese in for the event as well as Rick Ankiel, David Eckstein, Reggie Sanders, Woody Williams, Mike Matheny, Matt Morris and the Cardinals' all-time saves leader Jason Isringhausen. Al Hrabosky is also scheduled to appear. There will be memorial tributes to Darry Kile and the late Walt Jocketty as well.
The event is set to benefit La Russa’s Rescue Champions, his charity to help animal rescue and animal rescue centers, as well the PenFed Foundation, which supports military veterans and service members.
How Lars Nootbaar has stayed upright at the bottom of the Cardinals' lineup
Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon in the second inning of a game Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
What happens when the bat loses its magic?
It’s a problem the Cardinals faced as May turned to June. Lars Nootbaar, their mantle of consistency at the top of the lineup, had fallen into a slump. His bat had gone cold before: During a stretch of seven games between the end of April and early May, Nootbaar went just 2 for 27 at the plate.
But this time around was a different kind of struggle. From the second game of a doubleheader against the Royals on June 5 until June 13, Nootbaar went 1 for 32 with 17 strikeouts. He was taken out of the lineup following the June 13 contest against Milwaukee.
He wasn’t relegated to the bench because of health, which had happened five times since 2023. Instead, it was the bat that was failing him, not his body.
“It’s hard to enjoy it,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of the slump. “You try to continue to find joy in seeing other people’s success and supporting other guys.â€
Nootbaar’s struggles weren’t what was most worrying. Rather, it was how he was struggling. Since arriving in the majors in 2021, he’d built a reputation of being able to combine patience with power. Last season, he was one of just five players in the league in the 90th percentile in chase rate and hard-hit percentage according to Statcast.
But the pillars that held up Nootbaar’s reputation cracked. From June 5-13, Nootbaar’s O-swing rate — how often he’s swinging on pitches outside of the stroke zone — leapt to 32.1%, way up from last season’s mark of 17% per Statcast. Plus, his O-contact percentage — how often he makes contact with those pitches outside of the zone — sunk to 48.1% during that stretch. Last season, that number was 59.3%.
Essentially, Nootbaar was swinging at more pitches outside of the zone and making less contact with them while also striking out quite a bit.
“If I could tell you, I probably would’ve fixed it sooner,†Nootbaar said on what changed during that stretch.
After two days out of the starting lineup, Nootbaar was slotted into the No. 7 spot for the series opener against the White Sox.
While lineup shifts are common in baseball, Nootbaar hadn’t batted anywhere but the top of the lineup since the end of last season. He’d also never gone five straight complete games without a hit in his MLB career. Dating back to his high school days in El Segundo, California, and his college days at Southern California, these extended periods of futility were rare.
But even when Nootbaar was down, he was still finding ways to stay up.
“I feel like he failed well,†Marmol said.
Even if swings didn’t result in success, negativity wouldn’t permeate his head.
“Guys go through stretches,†Nootbaar said.
Sure enough, Nootbar bounced back, just like he did in May when he put together an eight-game hit streak following a slump.
After going hitless in the series opener at Rate Field, Nootbaar would go on a four-game hit streak. That included a 10th-inning solo home run in the series finale, a 113 mph laser into right field.
“Confidence,†Nootbaar said on what changed upon his return to the starting lineup. “This game is a lot of mental, and so when you don’t feel (the ball) on your barrel for a little, you start to lose the feeling of what it feels like. Sometimes, you just need to feel it on the barrel.â€
Upon returning home last weekend for a series against Cincinnati, Nootbaar kept the good times rolling.
Facing the Reds’ Brady Singer, the former Florida Gator threw a sinker, a pitch Nootbaar had struggled to hit in recent games. But Nootbar smoked a double into right-center field. In the seventh inning, after the Cardinals had scored four runs to give Andre Pallante much-needed run support, Nootbaar provided the cherry on top, looping a single into left field that scored Nolan Gorman from third.
Additionally, Nootbaar’s pillars of patience were remodeled. Over four games from June 19-21, his O-swing rate was down to 18.4%, while his strikeout rate went down to 27.8%.
The bounce-back can be traced back to Nootbaar remaining emotionally consistent throughout his struggles.
“I think he’s handled it well, even when it was not going his way at all,†Marmol said. “I felt like he was carrying it in a way that was good. Obviously, you’re going to have your days where you’re extremely frustrated and down on yourself. But I thought he ... showed up every day and was consistent with his overall attitude and approach.â€
While Nootbaar seems to be recapturing his groove, he said Sunday he’s flexible as to how the Cardinals use him in the lineup. And he’s shown the value in that attitude this week against the Cubs, hitting a two-run shot in Monday’s 8-2 victory and another two-run homer in Tuesday’s 8-7 win, both while batting fifth in the order.
“Whatever they think is best, I’m willing to do,†he said. “It doesn’t really matter to me, honestly.â€
Bobby Bowden, the legendary football coach who helped turn Florida State into a national powerhouse in the late 1980s and 1990s, broke down building a program into four stages: losing big, losing close, winning close and winning big.
Using that model, Nootbaar experienced the first two stages during his slump. Now, he seems to be headed to Stage 3, a welcome sight for a guy whose positive on-field energy is another key pillar of his personality.
“It’s good to see him smiling,†Marmol said, “and actually enjoying playing some baseball.â€
