ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Donnie Baseball.

So far, anyway, Brendan Donovan has produced like another almost-6-foot-tall lefty “Hit Man,� that being the great Yankee Don Mattingly.

Longest current hitting streak in Major League Baseball?

Brendan Donovan.

Most hits, entering Wednesday, in Major League Baseball?

Brendan Donovan.

Look, we’ve made a big deal for 2025 about the Cardinals’ young guys getting a runway to play. But how about the Cardinals now-in-their-prime guys manufacturing big time? Well, 27-year-old Lars Nootbaar (.885 on-base plus slugging percentage) is hitting the heck out baseballs — he smashed a three-run homer at home against Houston in Wednesday’s win. And the 28-year-old Donovan has the National League’s highest batting average (.380), along with his 12-game hitting streak, tying a career long.

“Offensively right now, he’s taking it to the next level,� Nootbaar said of Donovan, his longtime teammate in the majors and minors. “Being able to watch him take professional at bats, hit the ball hard and hit them in good spots, I think he’s doing a really good job of really taking the next step. Also in terms of getting the ball in the air, pulling some balls, taking some shots when he has to, and then also taking his hits. It’s really cool to see. ... When you can go in the bullpen in Boston, you know you’re swinging the bat pretty good.�

Indeed, Donnie drove a ball 106.1 mph off the bat at Fenway Park — and it sailed for 404 feet on April 4. Per the site Baseball Savant, it would’ve been a homer in all 30 parks.

And he continues to rip hits this month, while mostly batting third for the now 9-9 Cards. He has hits in 16 of the 18 games! During Wednesday’s matinee, he smacked a baseball 103.1 mph for an out — still, the third-hardest hit ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ had all day — and he also singled to extend the streak. Seemingly, the best strategy to keep him from getting a hit is, well, to hit him — and that happened Wednesday, sending the bearded and bruised Brendan to first base.

He is just a delight to watch hit. And he’s a delight to talk to about hitting. He’s honest and open. For instance, I noticed that most of his hitting qualities rated in high percentiles on Baseball Savant, be it his squared-up baseballs, strikeout rate, expected batting average, expected slugging percentage, etc. But his bat speed is in just the seventh percentile. Not 70th. Seventh. As we’ve seen with Nolan Arenado this year, upticks in bat speed have been a key reason for his early success. But Donovan’s is low — yet, curiously, he’s on a list with high-average batters such as Luis Arraez, Mookie Betts and Steven Kwan.

“So bat speed, I think it’s a rabbit hole that you can get stuck down,� Donovan said. “I like quickness versus bat speed. Like, how quickly can I go from where I’m launching from to impact? So I think that has something to do with it. Obviously, where you’re catching the ball (on your bat) in contact, I think, has a factor of bat speed. But you know, for me, it’s — am I hitting balls flush? Am I staying inside of them? And when I do get them to the pull side, are they backspun? That’s how I kind of look at it.

“Also with more bat speed, there also comes more swing-and-miss. So it’s like, for me, how can I balance that? I still train it, but I train it more of like a body movement, kind of honing in on a pattern and more focus on quickness and speed.�

It’s working. It’s working in part due to working counts, a Donovan staple. And it’s working in part due to working with new hitting coach Brant Brown. Among some fans on social media, Brown has been the most popular Cardinal this season. The likable new coach has rejuvenated the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ offense. Again, they’ve played only 18 games. But the Cards are hitting well — and Donovan is hitting as well as any of them.

“The game planning and the approach stuff has been very, very good,� Donovan said of his work with Brown. “To go up there and kind of have an idea what you want to do in your head, but then to have someone who watches film, who studies, who has been around and seen guys, you kind of lock in on an approach. I think it takes the guesswork out. ...

“Every little every day is so different (in the majors). I mean, everyone’s trying to attack you so many different ways. Your body feels different each and every day. But for me, I think my routine has been pretty consistent. And I think the recovery aspect is something that I’m leaning more into as of this past year.�

I asked the latest Donnie Baseball if he ever watched videos of the Yankees’ Donnie Baseball. He said “a little bit, yeah. And some old George Brett, too,� in reference to another iconic 1980s lefty hitter. Donovan said that his own stance and swing is “my own unique style — and a lot of it is posture related.� But he’s also watched “a lot of video� of three fellow righty-throwing, lefty-hitting infielders — Chase Utley, Daniel Murphy and, yep, Matt Carpenter.

Carp was the last Cardinal to lead the majors in hits (he tied for it in 2013). Again, it’s only been 18 games. But Donovan is entering his prime with the swings and results similar to some rather famous names (and nicknames).

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: With 1st NHL goal, Jimmy Snuggerud earns steak and has stake in Blues’ playoffs

• Benjamin Hochman

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: Cardinals players, STL author pay homage to Jackie Robinson. ‘He’s the reason I’m here.’

• Benjamin Hochman

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: The significance of the Cardinals’ Sunday win and Nolan Arenado’s swings

• Benjamin Hochman

Despite seeing 10 pitches and reaching base twice in his first two plate appearances against Astros starter Ronel Blanco, Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar did not take a swing while at the plate until he saw the 14th pitch Houston’s right-hander offered him Wednesday at Busch Stadium.

Hitting from his usual leadoff spot, Nootbaar walked on six pitches in his first at-bat and had the same result but on four pitches in his second turn at the plate. In the fifth inning, with his team looking to score its first run since Monday night, Nootbaar’s first swing of the afternoon produced three.

On a 2-1 curveball from Blanco, Nootbaar clubbed a three-run home run that traveled 418 feet to center field to help lift the Cardinals to a 4-1 win over the Astros that also secured a series win over Houston for the first time since August 2016.

“Blanco’s fastball was playing real well today,� Nootbaar said. “I think for me, being able to see a few of those early and then be able to get on first base and be like, ‘OK, I’ve seen some of the mix that he’s throwing without having to take a swing or do stuff like that,’ it kind of settles you in a little bit.�

Nootbaar’s home run erased a 1-0 lead the Astros got in the first inning against Cardinals starter Steven Matz, who completed five innings and allowed one run. In his first start of the season after opening the year in the bullpen, Matz retired 15 consecutive batters after allowing the first two he faced to reach base with singles in the first inning.

The Cardinals (9-9) received an additional RBI from rookie Thomas Saggese when he doubled home a run in the sixth inning. The win was closed out by Ryan Helsley, who notched his third save of the season. It wrapped up a 4-2 homestand that featured three games against the Phillies and three against the Astros — a pair of playoff teams a season ago.

“We faced a good arm (Tuesday night) and faced another one today and just continued to grind our at-bats, and we got the big hit (today) that we didn’t have yesterday,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “(Nootbaar) with the homer came up really big there. (We) took advantage of certain things on the bases and continued to play good, solid baseball. It was a solid homestand, for sure.�

Entering Wednesday, the Cardinals had not scored a run since Nolan Arenado homered with no outs in the seventh inning in an 8-3 win Monday. The Cardinals were shut out Tuesday for the first time this year when Astros starter Hunter Brown twirled six scoreless innings and three relievers (Bryan King, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader) combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

The scoreless streak hit 17 consecutive innings without a run, but a bunt set the table for Nootbaar to break it.

Victor Scott II led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single on a bunt that rolled less than halfway up the third base line and didn’t even draw a throw as third baseman Isaac Paredes watched the baseball trickle up the line and sit on the chalk before it ran out of steam. Saggese moved Scott to third base when he singled, and Nootbaar brought all three of them in to score when he homered off Blanco, who posted a 2.80 ERA in 167 1/3 innings in 2024.

“Houston does a good job on the pitching side and obviously the hitting side as well,� Nootbaar said. “They’ve had a history of a lot of good pitchers over there, and Blanco is one of them. I just think being able to grind out at-bats, try to put pressure on them early, but then having guys at the bottom of the order, like (Scott) and (Saggese) do their thing, makes it a lot easier for the rest of the guys.�

Before the Cardinals broke the stretch of 17 consecutive innings without a run, they drew one walk in each of the first three innings while facing Blanco before Alec Burleson reached base in the fourth inning on an infield single that required a replay review to overturn the original out call.

Cardinals hitters pushed Blanco’s pitch count to 62 through four innings. They produced hard contact with six of the first 12 balls put in play having exit velocities above 95 mph. Four of those surpassed 100 mph all while they looked for their first run since Monday.

On pitch No. 74, a curveball the right-hander threw to Nootbaar, they got it.

“The days kind of blend together, so you kind of try to be as goldfish mentality as possible. Try to put that ‘Ted Lasso’ quote in there,� said Brendan Donovan, who singled in the fifth inning to push his hit streak to a career-high 12 games. “They kind of blend together. To be honest ... I forgot that we got shut out yesterday. But what I look at is, yeah, we weren’t scoring runs, but today, the pitch count was starting to climb, right? Hit some balls hard. Some deep counts, and then (Nootbaar) gets that 2-1 breaking ball.

“Wham. That was the pitch that we were looking for. That was the one to get us through, but we had worked for five innings to try to grind them down for that one big swing, and he took it.�

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Matt Svanson's 'roller coaster' journey brings him to major leagues: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Steven Matz set to join rotation after working from relief role: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Cardinals prospect Cooper Hjerpe undergoes Tommy John surgery, expected back in 2026

• Daniel Guerrero

With a 4-1 win on Wednesday afternoon over the Astros, the Cardinals clinched another series win and a 4-2 homestand.

Here's what Cardinals players and manager Oli Marmol had to say afterwards.

Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown 'simplifies the game,' Lars Nootbaar says

Brant Brown has helped in 'making a clear-cut plan,' Cardinals' Thomas Saggese says

Brendan Donovan: Cardinals hitters ground down Astros pitchers for 5 innings. It paid off with a homer.

'We're playing good ball. We really are,' Oli Marmol says after winning Cardinals homestand

Lars Nootbaar talks about how patience, stubbornness power his game

Getting out of early trouble helped Steven Matz 'set the tone' for strong Cardinals start

The Cardinals needed a ‘big hit’ to claim series vs. Astros. Lars Nootbaar delivered it

The Cardinals left fielder gave his club their first runs since Monday when hit a three-run homer to help lift them to a 4-1 win Wednesday against the Astros.

Lars Nootbaar’s three-run homer lifts Cardinals to win to close out series vs. Astros

With his team scoreless in their last 17 innings, Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar broke their scoreless streak with a three-run homer in their 4-1 win over the Astros.

Matt Svanson's 'roller coaster' journey brings him to major leagues: Cardinals Extra

A former trade deadline acquisition, prospect Matt Svanson arrived to the majors Wednesday to give the Cardinals a fresh arm with starter Steven Matz on a pitch count.

When Matt Svanson was called from the bullpen to the dugout Tuesday night in the middle of Class AAA Memphis’ game against Jacksonville at AutoZone Park, the right-handed reliever thought that it could mean one of two things.

“I was honestly thinking either I’m going to the majors or getting traded, just because I know once you get traded, you sometimes get passed around here and there. That’s kind of what I was worried about,� said Svanson, who the Cardinals acquired in a deal with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.

What Svanson was told once he reached the dugout was that he was heading to the major leagues for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old had to hastily pack his bags Tuesday night and drive to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ as the Cardinals promoted him to give them a fresh arm who could provide multiple innings if needed Wednesday vs. the Astros with Steven Matz, who was on a limited pitch count, set to make his first start of the year.

Right-hander Roddery Munoz was optioned to Class AAA to clear a spot for Svanson.

“He fills up the zone. He’s on the ground. He gives you multiples,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Svanson. “... This is a low walk, low (strikeout), high ground ball type of lineup, and it allows for him to potentially set himself up.�

A 13th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2021, Svanson was dealt to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in the Paul DeJong trade in August 2023. He was promoted to the majors after beginning the 2025 minor league season with Memphis, where he allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings across four appearances for the Cardinals’ Class AAA affiliate.

Since arriving in the Cardinals farm system, Svanson has maintained a 2.76 ERA in 84 2/3 innings. While with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) in 2024, Svanson posted a 2.69 ERA in 63 2/3 innings and was 27 for 27 on save opportunities. The addition of a cutter to his pitch arsenal helped Svanson keep opposing hitters to a .590 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and led them to a 52.7% ground-ball rate.

The strong season earned the right-hander a 40-man roster spot this past offseason that protected him from the Rule 5 draft in December.

“It’s definitely a roller coaster,� Svanson said of his journey to reach the majors. “It’s nice the past two years getting comfortable with all the guys (and) all the staff here. (There are) different philosophies, and then the learning, honestly, is maybe better. You get trained by one organization to learn a certain skill set, and then another one brings you in.�

The 40-man roster spot gave Svanson his first opportunity in a big league camp. The right-hander logged three innings and allowed two runs in three Grapefruit League games before being optioned to minor league camp.

Svanson said the experience gave him an idea of what his arsenal could do to hitters at the big league level. The time around experienced big league arms helped further that understanding.

“Learning different attack methods from all the veterans in the locker room and then just learning how to be a professional, too,� Svanson said of his takeaways from big league camp. “It’s a different level. Every level you move up is a different level of maturity that you have to have.�

Winn, Herrera continue progression

Masyn Winn (lower back spasms) and Ivan Herrera (left knee inflammation) have progressed to playing catch and hitting as they rehab from their respective injuries, Marmol said.

Winn is expected to remain in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ over the weekend to continue rehabbing while the Cardinals are in New York for a three-game series vs. the Mets. Winn could join the Cardinals in Atlanta for the second leg of their two-city road trip and could be activated as soon as Tuesday.

How Winn responded to his pregame activities Wednesday would provide a better indication of his timeline to return, but Marmol noted Winn is “on pace for that.�

Marmol said the “hopeâ€� for Herrera is that he begins a running progression and a catching progression at some point this weekend while the Cardinals are in New York for a three-game series against the Mets. Marmol said Herrera will remain in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to continue his rehab.

“We’ll have a much better idea as to what the timeline looks like after that, because those would be the real boxes to check,� Marmol said of Herrera.

Kross hits for cycle

Cardinals prospect Josh Kross hit for the cycle Tuesday for Class Low-A Palm Beach. Kross, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 MLB draft, tripled in his first at-bat, homered to right field in his third at-bat, singled in his fourth at-bat, and completed his cycle with a ground-rule double in his fifth at-bat. Kross, 22, collected six RBIs in the PB-Cards’ 10-5 win over Clearwater, the Phillies’ Class Low-A affiliate.

A catcher from the University of Cincinnati, Kross has batted .274 with a .928 on-base plus slugging percentage in 31 minor league games since debuting last summer. He’s yet to advance from Class Low-A.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

The Cardinals needed a ‘big hit’ to claim series vs. Astros. Lars Nootbaar delivered it

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar’s three-run homer lifts Cardinals to win to close out series vs. Astros

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Steven Matz set to join rotation after working from relief role: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Cardinals prospect Cooper Hjerpe undergoes Tommy John surgery, expected back in 2026

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Jordan Walker credits outfield company as role players in his strides: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

With his club held scoreless through their last 17 innings following a shutout loss on Tuesday night, Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar’s swing in the fifth inning Wednesday vs. the Astros gave his club their first runs since Monday and a lead they held onto for a series win.

Standing in the box against Astros starter Ronel Blanco for a third time in the series finale at Busch Stadium, Nootbaar connected on a three-run home run that helped lift the Cardinals to a 4-1 win after they trailed 1-0 before Nootbaar stepped to the plate in the fifth inning.

An RBI double in the sixth inning from Thomas Saggese tacked on an additional run to get the Cardinals (9-9) back to .500 and give Steven Matz (1-0) a win after he threw five innings and allowed one run in his start.

A reliever through the first two weeks of the regular season, Matz struck out five batters and did not walk one on 71 pitches. Matz, who was said to be on a pitch count of around 65 pitches, didn’t allow a runner to reach base after giving up two singles to the first two batters he faced.

The lone run Matz allowed came on a groundout from Isaac Paredes in the first inning that scored Jose Altuve after Altuve and Jeremy Pena singled to begin the game.

Matz was relieved by Ryan Fernandez to begin the sixth inning. Fernandez completed a scoreless inning and was followed by scoreless innings from Kyle Leahy and Phil Maton. Closer Ryan Helsley, who hadn’t pitched in a week, secured his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

A bunt, a bloop, and a blast

Silenced by Blanco through the first four innings, the Cardinals began the fifth inning with some small ball that set up a long ball.

To lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, Victor Scott II reached base with a bunt single on the first pitch he saw. Scott’s bunt rolled less than halfway up the third base line and sat on the chalk after Paredes allowed it to stop rolling in hopes that it would roll into foul territory.

A single into shallow right field from Saggese in the following at-bat put runners on first and third base just as the Cardinals' lineup wrapped around to leadoff hitter Nootbaar.

Facing Blanco for a third time after drawing walks in his first two plate appearances, Nootbaar took the first three pitches the right-hander offered him to put him in a 2-1 count. On the fourth pitch, an elevated curveball, Nootbaar belted a 418-foot line drive that sailed over center fielder Jake Meyers’ head and landed on the grass beyond the outfield wall for a homer that put the Cardinals ahead, 3-1.

Nootbaar’s three-run home run was his third of the year and his first since March 31. Nootbaar entered the series finale batting .235 with a .294 slugging percentage through 51 at-bats in April.

Another run added

With Blanco removed from his start after five innings, the Cardinals welcomed reliever Logan VanWey by pushing across a run vs. the right-hander before he could collect a second out in the inning.Ìý

Jordan Walker led off the bottom of the sixth inning by singling to right field in a 2-1 count after laying off a pair of sweepers that missed the strike zone. After right fielder Cam Smith dropped a pop fly Yohel Pozo hit into foul territory, Pozo capitalized on Smith’s error by lining a single to right field on the very next pitch to put runners on first and second base.

Batting with one out after Scott’s bunt attempt was popped up and caught by Paredes, Saggese capitalized on the scoring chance with a double to right field. In the at-bat, the rookie infielder, whom the Cardinals have looked to better control his strike zone, laid off an 0-2 fastball thrown high-and-away and followed that with a double to right field that scored Walker and moved Pozo to third base.

The Cardinals’ scoring threat ended with a lineout from Lars Nootbaar and a strikeout from Willson Contreras.

Matz settles down

Following the first inning run, Matz retired the next 15 batters he faced before he was replaced at the start of the sixth inning by Fernandez. Matz induced four groundouts and five flyouts with a repertoire that featured 41 sinkers and 21 changeups.Ìý

Although Matz got just one whiff on his changeup and three in total, the lefty’s changeup kept Astros hitters to an average exit velocity of 84.4 mph, per Statcast.

He was aided on defense in the fifth inning by Alec Burleson.Ìý

Making a start at first base with Willson Contreras at the designated hitter spot, Burleson showed some range on a diving grab in the fifth inning on a ball Meyers grounded with a 104.4 mph exit velocity. Burleson’s clean snag and Matz’s footwork to tag first base as he raced up the line secured an out on the second-hardest hit ball Matz allowed to the Astros.

Matz’s start came after he made five relief appearances before being inserted into the rotation, with Wednesday planned as the day he’d do so. During his relief role, Matz held a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings.

Donovan keeps streakingÌý

A single from Brendan Donovan in the fifth inning after Nootbaar homered extended Donovan’s current hitting streak to a career-high 12 consecutive games. The hit streak leads all active major league hitters.Ìý

During the 12-game hit streak, which began on April 4 with a three-hit performance at Fenway Park, Donovan is batting .478 Ìýin 46Ìýat-bats.

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: Cardinals players, STL author pay homage to Jackie Robinson. ‘He’s the reason I’m here.’

• Benjamin Hochman

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Bruised in Boston, Cardinals rotation vowed ‘we’re better than this’ and started proving it

• Derrick Goold

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Matt Svanson's 'roller coaster' journey brings him to major leagues: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

After starting off in the bullpen, Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz moves to the starting rotation Wednesday for the rubber game of a three-game set vs. Houston at Busch Stadium.

Wednesday's game begins at 12:15 p.m. at Busch Stadium. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ fell 2-0 on Tuesday after an 8-3 win Monday.

The Cardinals are in the middle of a stretch of 13 straight games without an off day, necessitating the role change by the left-hander Matz (0-0, 2.31), which gives the Cardinals a six-man rotation.

He will be limited to about 65 pitches on Wednesday.

Matz slots into a Cardinals rotation that has been at the top of its game.

In the past seven games, Cardinals starters have put up a 1.07 ERA and gone an average of six innings per start. Before that surge began, Cardinals starters had an MLB-worst 6.18 ERA.

Matz has been solid out of the bullpen so far this season, and that followed a strong spring that included a 2.29 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings.

He's allowing just 7.5% of the batted balls against him to be pulled in the air, which is about 10 percentage points less than last season and would be a career best.

Historically, though, Matz has struggled with both injuries and effectiveness. In 34 previous starts with the Cardinals from the time he joined the club in 2022, Matz has a 4.88 ERA.

The Astros counter with 31-year-old Dominican righty Ronel Blanco (1-1, 6.94), who will also be making his first start of the season. Despite the poor numbers early this season, Blanco was a valuable swingman for the Astros last season, and he was equally effective vs. righties and lefties.

The Cardinals and Astros are both 8-9.

Transaction: Roddery Munoz down, Matt Svanson up

The Cardinals optioned right-hander Roddery Munoz to Triple-A Memphis after Tuesday night's game and called up right-hander Matt Svanson from Memphis.

Munoz (0-0, 10.13) appeared in three games since he was called up Friday.

Svanson has a 1.59 ERA in four appearances at Memphis this year. He was acquired in 2023 from Toronto as part of the trade that sent Paul DeJong out.

The 26-year-old went 27 for 27 on save attempts, posted a 2.69 ERA and struck out 59 batters in 63â…” innings with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) last year.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Lars Nootbaar (L) LF
2. Willson Contreras (R) DH
3. Brendan Donovan (L) 2B
4. Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
5. Alec Burleson (L) 1B
6. Jordan Walker (R) RF
7. Yohel Pozo (R) C
8. Victor Scott II (L) CF
9. Thomas Saggese (R) SS

P: Steven Matz, LHP

ASTROS

1. Jose Altuve (R) DH
2. Jeremy Peña (R) SS
3. Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
4. Christian Walker (R) 1B
5. Yainer Diaz (R) C
6. Brendan Rodgers (R) 2B
7. Jake Meyers (R) CF
8. Cam Smith (R) RF
9. Chas McCormick (R) LF

P: Ronel Blanco, RHP

Injury report

Masyn Winn, SS (back spasms):ÌýPlayed catch with teammate Ivan Herrera on Tuesday as he began light baseball activities, his first on the field actions since lower back spasms ejected him from a game earlier in the home stand. Placed on the 10-day injured list due to lower back spasms experienced April 11. Updated April 15

Ivan Herrera, C (bone bruise):ÌýBegan light baseball activities Tuesday by playing catch with teammate Winn. Herrera has been able to work out in the weight room and is making strides toward more intense drills and hitting. He was given time to rest to avoid making the injury worse, and there will be anÌý element of tolerance as he increases his activity.ÌýUpdated April 15

Zack Thompson, LHP (lat strain): Remained in Jupiter, Florida, to begin a throwing program after a month of limited activity and no throwing. Thompson went through multiple checkups and scans to monitor the healing of a tear in his lat on the left side, and they did not show any setback to delayed Thompson's scheduled move to the injured list. On April 7, Thompson was transferred to the 60-day IL. Updated April 7

Jeff Gordon

Gordo: Positive offensive signs abound in Cardinals' season of development

• Jeff Gordon

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Bruised in Boston, Cardinals rotation vowed ‘we’re better than this’ and started proving it

• Derrick Goold

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Steven Matz set to join rotation after working from relief role: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: Cardinals players, STL author pay homage to Jackie Robinson. ‘He’s the reason I’m here.’

• Benjamin Hochman

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Cardinals prospect Cooper Hjerpe undergoes Tommy John surgery, expected back in 2026

• Daniel Guerrero

Hours before every game, the starters in the Cardinals rotation meet for a few minutes around their stretch to chat, to challenge each other, and in Pittsburgh, they didn’t need that much time at all.

With most of their ERAs still swollen and bruised by a visit to Boston’s Fenway Park, the rotation huddled the next day in Pittsburgh to agree on what Erick Fedde recalled was a brief, succinct and pointed message.

“Hey guys,� he repeated. “We’re better than this.�

The turnaround that began with Fedde’s six no-hit innings against the Pirates completed its first lap of the rotation with another quality start from the right-hander Tuesday night. Fedde limited the Houston Astros to one run through six sturdy innings, only to be outdueled by Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown, whose high-octane sinker bulldozed the Cardinals in a 2-0 victory at Busch Stadium. Fedde’s third quality start of the season was the third consecutive for the rotation and fifth in their past six games. They had only two in the first 11 games.

Hey guys, they are better than that.

“Like most things — hitting, winning, pitching well — it’s contagious,� Fedde said late Tuesday night. “We’re challenging ourselves. We want to do as good as the next guy, if not better. That Boston series was really tough on us. We kind of had our powwow and said, ‘We’ve got to be better than this.’ We said we were going to have the best five rotation (of games) that we could before Sonny (Gray’s) last start. We had a really good five. And we’re trying to do it again.�

The timing of the “good five� is both fortuitous and not at all coincidental.

The Cardinals upshifted Wednesday to a six-man rotation with the addition of Steven Matz to the mix for at least the next week. At the same time, the Cardinals are starting to loosen some of the conservative pitch counts they placed as a governor or starters to begin the season. Fedde was removed after six no-hit innings in Pittsburgh in large part because he needed 88 pitches to get 18 outs, was not going to be able to finish the ninth and was the first pitcher to go on four days of rest. But he went 96 pitches Tuesday.

The Cardinals starter has thrown more than 90 pitches in three of the past five starts, and with quantity and quality, they’ve pitched deeper into games.

“They can get to where they need to,� manager Oliver Marmol said. “They’ve all done their job this time through.�

During the chilly, misspent weekend at Fenway Park, the Cardinals starters allowed 17 runs in 10 innings. Not one of the three starters got within an out of finishing the fifth inning. The gnarliest of the games was the 18-7 loss on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.� But Fedde’s start was not without welts. The right-hander pitched the home opener at Fenway, and in three innings, he allowed six runs on five hits. He walked four.

His sinker misbehaved.

His pitches lacked familiar movement.

His between-start task was clear.

“I put myself in a big hole in Boston in the sense of personal stats and numbers,� Fedde said. “You know you’ve got to come to the ballpark and put up some good starts. Those are really important for me and important for the team. I want to continue to build off of that.�

Fedde and pitching coach Dusty Blake traced a few issues and the lack of movement on his pitches back to mechanics and specifically the sweep of his right hand. As Fedde brought the ball around, the distance between his hand and head had widened — as if he was casting a fishing lure and didn’t want to get hooked, not like he was delivering a pitch and wanted it to hook.

Going into Tuesday’s start against the Astros and opposite Brown, Fedde focused on his non-pitching arm, or his glove side. His idea was to keep it bent and close to his body, and that doing that would also bring his pitching arm closer, too.

The sinker suggested it worked.

“And my heater was better than it’s been in a long time,� Fedde said. “You saw swings where guys looked uncomfortable, broken bats, (and) I even missed my spots and kept guys on the ground. Overall, my stuff felt much better.�

Fedde threw his sinker more than 50% of the time and got as many fouls and swings-and-misses on it combined (11) as he did balls in play (11). When the Astros loaded the bases against him in the second inning, he was able to use the sinker to setup an out and leave the bases still loaded as he walked off the mound. In the fourth, Fedde walked the No. 9 batter to load the bases again. To escape the inning he had to face former MVP and three-time batting champion Jose Altuve.

Fedde began the at-bat with a sinker.

He finished it with a sinker for a flyout.

And in the middle, he missed with two sweeping sliders, but he continued to find a way to use the breaking ball effectively even if he could not land it consistently for a strike.

“Just the way it was moving was better for him,� Marmol said. “He did not have a ton of feel for the slider early and started using it underneath the zone a little better as the game went on.�

Fedde struck out five total in his first three starts.

He struck out five in the first five innings Tuesday.

The right-hander’s evening ended with a liner right back at him that he was able to snare, flip and then toss to first base for a double play. Cam Smith drilled a cutter that left his bat at 99.9 mph. Fedde got a glove on it for the catch, but as he steadied himself to prove he caught the ball, the ball popped from his glove. Fedde maintained his footing to regrasp the ball and complete the throw to first base for the inning-ending double play on his 96th and final pitch.

“Pure reaction,� he said. “I think it hit my glove so hard it shot it around, hit the ground, popped up and that’s where I had to focus and make sure I finished the play. When I caught it I was so excited that I pointed at the ump, ‘Hey, I caught it. Make sure this is a double play here.’ I wanted to get out of the inning.�

Fedde’s fitting finale meant the Cardinals got at least five innings from the starter in seven consecutive starts leading into Matz’s first. The lefty will be limited to around 65 or 70 pitches, and the Cardinals could yet reshuffle the bullpen to provide some insurance innings if necessary. The bullpen, so winded coming out of Boston, has had the chance to breathe even with a few extra-inning games. Fedde steadied the Cardinals with six no-hit innings in an eventual loss in Pittsburgh. Andre Pallante one-upped him with seven in a win against Philadelphia.

Matthew Liberatore followed with a win to claim the series vs. the Phillies.

And then Gray, in the mile marker start the rotation targeted in Pittsburgh as the goal of the turnaround, pitched seven scoreless innings for the win Monday night.

Fedde followed with six.

Now it’s Matz’s first turn.

Hey guy, do better than this.

“I think (momentum) applies to all areas of the game,� Marmol said. “When you’re playing good defense, you’re inspired to create an identity around it. Same thing with the rotation. There’s a competition within the rotation be the next guy to throw up zeroes.�

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Steven Matz set to join rotation after working from relief role: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Jordan Walker credits outfield company as role players in his strides: Cardinals Extra

• Daniel Guerrero

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals

Here’s how Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore silenced Phillies to cinch series win

• Daniel Guerrero

Photos: Cardinals fall to Astros in second game of series at Busch

Sure, the Cardinals would love to contend for the National League Central Division title this season. The players see no reason to concede the season.

But talent development is the stated goal for John Mozeliak’s farewell season as president of baseball operations. He wants to leave successor Chaim Bloom a talented young nucleus, plus payroll flexibility.

This year will be judged on the success or failure of young veterans and prospects. Manager Oliver Marmol certainly understands that.

“We’re going to have to continue to get better every time out,� Marmol said. “And that goes for all facets of the game, our approach offensively, what we do on the bases. We have to learn from it, every week, every month, be better than we were.�

The early returns from spring training and the first weeks of the regular season are positive. Despite suffering injury hits, this lineup of homegrown position players enjoyed an encouraging start.

Let’s start with Jordan Walker. He’s smiling again. He looks confident at the plate. He is chasing fewer pitches. He looks comfortable in right field.

We’ve seen him race into the right-center gap to make a game-ending catch. We’ve seen him reach over the wall to deny a homer and come diving toward the infield to deny a single.

That foul pop-up he caught with a sliding catch? He came all the way from Ballpark Village to make that play.

Outfield coach Jon Jay has made progress with him. So has hitting coach Brant Brown. Walker has put in the work.

We’re not sure he will reach the sky-high ceiling scouts projected a few years ago, but he is raising his floor while rebounding from his disastrous 2024 campaign.

Victor Scott II continues to exceed expectations. His hit tool remained questionable coming into spring training.

In his last two seasons at West Virginia University, he hit just .232 and .278. Scott broke through in 2023, batting .282 at Class A Peoria and .323 at Double-A Springfield (Missouri).

But he struggled against tougher competition last season, hitting .210 at Triple-A Memphis and .179 for the Cardinals.

Then Scott made hitting adjustments that paid off. He earned the center field job by posting 1.172 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in the spring, and he carried that confidence and production into the real games.

He has flashed power potential. He has bunted his way on base. He has produced competitive at-bats against established pitchers. He has looked more polished in the outfield too.

Outfield instability has plagued this franchise for years. Fans howled as ex-Cardinals Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia and Lane Thomas emerged as productive regulars elsewhere.

Now, the Cardinals have an outfield of Lars Nootbaar, Scott and Walker to invest in. Chase Davis, a 2023 first-round pick, is off to a strong start at Springfield, so he could fit into the 2026 picture as well.

On the infield, Brendan Donovan has regained his arm strength after repairs. He can play all four spots this season and fill in as an outfielder, too, while taking consistently tough at-bats in the middle of the order.

Recurring back issues are a concern for Masyn Winn, who returned to the injured list with spasms. But he is an established talent, the new face of this franchise.

Winn’s 10-for-23 surge before getting hurt eliminated any concerns about his cold hitting in the spring.

Nolan Gorman’s scenario has been sub-optimal, as he started the season as the odd man out of the lineup with Nolan Arenado still hanging around. Then Gorman suffered a minor hamstring strain.

But his small work sample has been encouraging, with more hard contact and less whiffing. With Winn sidelined, there could be more infield at-bats for Gorman in the near term.

In the longer term, Gorman’s need for regular at-bats will challenge Marmol’s juggling skills.

There is plenty of intrigue at catcher. Ivan Herrera continued to rake, but opponents were 7 for 7 stealing bases against him before he suffered his knee injury.

Such basepaths exploitation prompted Marmol to regularly replace him with Pedro Pages for defensive purposes in the late innings. Now Herrera’s absence raises the profile of Pages, who is an excellent handler of pitchers.

Can Pages hit well enough to earn the lead catching role? If he does, how will Marmol find regular at-bats for Herrera upon his return?

Alec Burleson, Herrera, Gorman, Luken (Home Run) Baker, Thomas Saggese ... this team is loaded with potential designated hitters.

The organization is crowded at catcher, too, with prospects Jimmy Crooks and Leonardo Bernal starting well at Memphis and Springfield, respectively.

The organization is building a surplus of good young hitters. They are much further along than the young pitching, although Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore are on track and Michael McGreevy (at Memphis) and Tekoah Roby (at Springfield) started well.

Fans took a wait-and-see approach with the ’25 Cardinals, as you would expect given the club’s uninspiring messaging. But they may not have to wait long to see the organization’s NextGen hitters take major strides forward.

Jeff Gordon

Tipsheet: Tommy Edman flourishes in second career stage with Dodgers

• Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon

Tipsheet: Fast-finishing Flames push Blues into must-win mode

• Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon

Tipsheet: Greg Millen was a fierce competitor, elite analyst, memorable character

• Jeff Gordon