MLB Player News

Castro went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Padres.

Castro has hit safely in four of the last five games, with Friday's effort helping to wash out the taste of his five-strikeout performance from Thursday. The utility man typically doesn't add much power, so he'll need to make steady contact to add value in fantasy. Over 13 games this season, he's batting .224 with a .630 OPS, one home run, seven RBI, eight runs scored, three doubles and one steal in two attempts. Castro is primarily seeing time in the infield but has past experience in the outfield.

Sugano allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Padres.

Sugano turned in a second straight quality start, though the long ball remains a problem. He gave up solo home runs to Gavin Sheets and Luis Campusano in the fifth inning. Still, over 16.2 innings across three starts, Sugano has a 2.16 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB. He's made two of his starts on the road, and it's likely his luck will run out with a steady stretch of time at Coors Field. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at Houston.

Campusano went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a double and a walk in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rockies.

Campusano continues to deliver with the bat, as he's hit safely in his last five games and has a homer and four doubles in that span. The long ball Friday was his first of the season. He started the year firmly in a bench role behind Freddy Fermin, but Campusano's hot hitting could help him secure more playing time. The catcher is batting .353 (6-for-17) through seven contests while adding four RBI and three runs scored.

Sheets went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rockies.

Sheets opened the scoring with a solo shot in the fifth inning and then walked it off with a three-run blast in the ninth. Those were his first two homers of the year after he hit a career-best 19 in the 2025 regular season. This was Sheets' second multi-hit effort in a row and his fourth in his last eight games. The 29-year-old is now batting .256 with a .785 OPS, six RBI, six runs scored, five doubles and a stolen base over 13 contests.

Buehler allowed three hits and struck out four without walking a batter over six scoreless innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Rockies.

Buehler's first two outings as a Padre were unremarkable, but he logged his first quality start of the season in this one. The opponent likely played a factor in his success, but this was a positive step forward for the 31-year-old right-hander after a couple of down years following Tommy John surgery. Buehler has an 11:5 K:BB to go with his 4.97 ERA across 12.2 innings through three starts this season. He is projected to make his next start at home versus the Mariners.

Early didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across 4.1 innings.

Early allowed the first three batters to reach in the bottom of the second inning but was able to escape with just one run allowed on a Victor Scott sacrifice fly. Early battled command issues most of the night but was able to work around it and got into the fifth inning before exiting with a 2-1 lead. Zack Kelly came on in relief and allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base, and St. Louis took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning. Through three starts, Early owns a 2.63 ERA and 15:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings. He lines up to face the Twins on the road Wednesday.

Walker went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox.

Walker continues to swing a hot bat, as he was the only Cardinals player to record multiple hits Friday. After striking out in his first at-bat, Walker singled in the third inning and singled and scored in the fifth. Walker is 10-for-25 with four home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored, one stolen base and a 2:9 K:BB in his last six games.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Graterol (shoulder) has begun throwing bullpen sessions, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Graterol began playing catch during the late stages of spring training, and he's now been cleared to throw off a mound for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in November 2024. He still has several hurdles to clear before being deemed ready to make his season debut, but he's starting to make significant progress.

Jax picked up a hold Friday against the Yankees. striking out one in a clean sixth inning.

The hold was the first of the year for Jax, who appears to have fallen down the pecking order in the Tampa Bay bullpen. The right-hander had opened the season as the favorite for saves for the Rays, but he's coughed up eight runs (five earned) and blown his two save chances through his first five innings. Bryan Baker has successfully converted the club's past two save opportunities, and Jax could drop even further down the hierarchy once Edwin Uceta (shoulder) is ready to make his season debut.

O'Brien picked up his fourth save Friday against the Red Sox, striking out one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.

O'Brien entered in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and set the Red Sox down in order on eight pitches, six of which he threw for strikes. After Ryne Stanek opened the season as St. Louis' closer, O'Brien has recorded four straight saves for the Cardinals. He's yet to allow a run and owns a perfect 8:0 K:BB across 8.1 innings.