MLB Player News

Nootbaar went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in a 9-5 win over Atlanta in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The outfielder collected three hits on the day after going 2-for-3 with a walk in a 3-2 loss in the matinee. Nootbaar is batting .250 with a home run and two doubles across nine games since he returned from an oblique injury that cost him more than five weeks. For the season, Nootbaar is slashing .237/.325/.401 with six homers, four steals, 20 RBI, 17 runs scored, nine doubles and a triple over 201 plate appearances. He's operated as the Cardinals' top right fielder since his return, though he occasionally shifts over to center when Michael Siani is out of the lineup.

Garcia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

The Reds are bringing a lefty (Andrew Abbott) to the hill for the second day in a row, so the left-handed-hitting Garcia will once again take a seat. Ildemaro Vargas will sub in for Garcia at second base.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Alvarez has gone 1-for-7 with a walk and an RBI to begin the second half, and he'll take a seat for Sunday's matchup in Miami. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate to catch for rookie righty Christian Scott.

Contreras went 4-for-9 with one RBI and one run scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

Contreras notched his fourth multi-hit effort over 15 games in July with a three-hit game in the nightcap. The catcher looks like he hasn't missed a beat since returning from a broken forearm in late June, batting .278 with four homers and 13 RBI over 22 contests following a six-week absence. He's up to a .280/.404/.511 slash line with 10 homers, 25 RBI, 32 runs scored, 13 doubles and three stolen bases through 53 games this season. Manager Oliver Marmol has committed to keeping Contreras in the lineup, so he should start at either catcher or designated hitter on a near-everyday basis.

Burleson went 4-for-9 with four RBI and one run scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

Burleson did most of his damage in a 9-5 win for the Cardinals in the nightcap. He had a sacrifice fly to open the scoring in the first inning and added a pair of RBI singles. Burleson's breakout has reached another level in July -- he's hitting .355 with eight extra-base hits and 19 RBI over 15 games this month. Overall, he's at a .292/.323/.492 slash line with 17 homers, 57 RBI, 42 runs scored, seven stolen bases and 14 doubles across 91 games.

Gorman went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 9-5 win over Atlanta in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Gorman sat out the matinee game, and he delivered in the nightcap with a go-ahead blast in the second inning. The homer was his first since July 2 and his 18th of the year, though he also struck out multiple times for the sixth time in seven games. Gorman's 37.9 percent strikeout rate continues to drag down the rest of his line -- he's slashing .207/.279/.420 with 18 homers, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored, six stolen bases and 13 doubles. Given his contact troubles, Gorman is likely to remain in a strong-side platoon role at second base, and he could begin to sit against some right-handers as well if he doesn't correct course.

Donovan went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a 9-5 win over Atlanta in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Donovan was held hitless in the matinee, just the fourth time in 15 games in July that's happened. He bounced back in the nightcap, hitting a solo shot in the fifth inning and adding a two-run single in the ninth. The 27-year-old is batting .328 in July, and he's up to .275 for the year with a .757 OPS, nine homers, 48 RBI, 44 runs scored, 22 doubles, one triple and three stolen bases over 93 games.

Hinds is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

After opening his big-league career earlier this month by going 11-for-22 with eight extra-base hits (five home runs, two doubles and one triple) to go with two stolen bases in his first six games, Hinds has predictably cooled down. He went 0-for-4 in the Reds' final contest before the All-Star break and has opened the second half by going 1-for-8 with three strikeouts in the Reds' first two games in Washington. Hinds' hot start will likely give him at least a little more leash in a near-everyday role, but his playing time could drop quickly if the contact issues that were present at each of his stops in the minors begin to crop up more frequently in the majors.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 3-2 loss to Atlanta in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Arenado also went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the nightcap, a 9-5 win for St. Louis. The third baseman continues to hit well in July -- he's batting .310 over 15 contests, though just three of his 18 hits this month have gone for extra bases. Overall, he's at a .270/.323/.386 slash line with nine homers, 41 RBI, 39 runs scored, one stolen base and 14 doubles through 92 games.

Roycroft (1-2) allowed an unearned run on one walk over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

Roycroft has yielded five runs (four earned) over his last four appearances. He gave up a walk-off sacrifice fly to get stuck with a 3-2 loss in the 10th inning of Saturday's day game. The right-hander continues to see mostly low-leverage work for the Cardinals, pitching to a 3.52 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB over 23 innings.