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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Optimism about avoiding IL
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday he hopes to avoid using Stanek (ankle) "for maybe two or three days," Amber Winkler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Stanek suffered a right ankle injury on a play at first base in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers. While the reliever appears unlikely to be available until at least Friday, the Cardinals are optimistic he will avoid a trip to the injured list. After posting an 8.31 ERA in April, Stanek boasts a 2.91 ERA and 21:8 K:BB over 21.2 frames since May 1.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Departs with injury
Rotowire
Stanek was removed from Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers due to an apparent leg injury, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The right-hander was able to avoid a major collision at first base between Joey Ortiz and Bryan Torres as Ortiz beat out a bunt single, but Stanek appeared to jam his leg into the ground while attempting to slide into the bag. The specifics of the injury aren't clear, but 34-year-old is unlikely to be available for Tuesday's nightcap as he's evaluated.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Returning from paternity leave
Rotowire
The Cardinals activated Stanek from the paternity leave list Friday.
Stanek missed the series earlier this week in Atlanta as he welcomed a new baby to the family, but he's active ahead of the Cardinals' weekend set against the rival Cubs. Gordon Graceffo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in order to make room on the roster.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Goes on paternity list
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed Stanek on the paternity leave list Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Stanek will likely miss the entire three-game series in Atlanta before rejoining the St. Louis bullpen this weekend at Wrigley Field versus the Cubs. Ryan Fernandez (back) has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list to absorb Stanek's roster spot.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Gives up three homers Friday
Rotowire
Stanek (2-1) was charged with the loss and a blown save Friday against the Twins after allowing three runs on three hits (all home runs) across 1.1 innings. He struck out one.
Stanek had given up just two home runs over 29 outings and 26 innings this season prior to Friday, but he was taken deep by Kody Clemens, Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee. Clemens was the first batter he faced with two outs and two men on base in the seventh inning, and the Minnesota utility man launched his 10th homer of the season to tie the game. Stanek never regained his composure, allowing solo shots to Lewis and Lee in the eighth frame. Despite this subpar outing, Stanek should continue to be a late-inning option for the Cardinals. He owns a 5.60 ERA but has 11 holds, although he's also gone 1-for-3 in save chances, so ninth-inning duties probably aren't on the horizon for him.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Finding groove
Rotowire
Stanek boasts a 1.38 ERA and 14:6 K:BB over 13 innings since the beginning of May.
Stanek finished April with an 8.31 ERA and 18:12 K:BB across 13 frames in his first 15 outings of the season, but he's found a groove since then, having yielded an earned run in just one of his last 14 appearances. His poor control still gets him into trouble at times, but Stanek has re-established himself as one of Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol's go-to right-handed setup men. He could net the occasional save on days Riley O'Brien is unavailable.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Dominant in appearance
Rotowire
Stanek pitched a perfect inning while striking out the side in a 3-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday.
After entering the game in the eighth inning, Stanek retired the top three Mariners hitters, J.P. Crawford, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, in order. The veteran right-hander pitched back-to-back scoreless outings against Seattle. The 34-year-old has been shaky this season with 10 earned runs allowed in just 11.2 innings pitched, while recording 17 strikeouts as well.
Stanek walked one and recorded one strikeout in a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Mets.
Stanek handled the ninth inning in both of the Cardinals' previous two wins, picking up the save on Opening Day against the Rays before blowing the save in the second game of the season. Manager Oliver Marmol opted to use Stanek in a setup role Tuesday, and Stanek had his best inning of the young season. With Stanek used earlier in the game, the Cardinals went to Riley O'Brien for the ninth inning Tuesday, and he slammed the door shut on the Mets, setting them down in order on 11 pitches to pick up his first save of the season. All three of Stanek, O'Brien and JoJo Romero figure to get save chances for the Cardinals this season.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Picks up win despite blown save
Rotowire
Stanek (1-0) blew the save but collected the win in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Rays, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits over 1.1 innings. He struck out two.
With the Cardinals ahead 4-0, Matt Svanson got the call in the ninth inning but ran into trouble, and Stanek allowed two inherited runners to score before the tying run was added to his own ledger on a Nick Fortes single. Stanek allowed an additional unearned run in the top of the 10th but got bailed out when rookie JJ Wetherholt walked it off in the bottom of the frame. While Stanek has gotten the Cards' first two save chances of the season, converting the first one, he's looked shaky in both outings and has a 3.86 ERA and 3:3 K:BB in his first 2.1 innings of the season.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Hangs on for first save
Rotowire
Stanek picked up the save Thursday against the Rays, allowing no hits and three walks in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
The right-hander drew St. Louis' first save opportunity of the year in his team debut, suggesting he's firmly in the mix for ninth-inning work. It's perhaps too early to tell if he'll get the bulk of the save chances in 2026, but Stanek could be worth a speculative pickup in fantasy leagues as this situation shakes out. JoJo Romero and Riley O'Brien worked the seventh and eighth innings respectively Thursday.
Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Could be part of closer committee
Rotowire
The Cardinals could use Stanek as part of a closer-by-committee strategy, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Manager Oliver Marmol said of the Cardinals' closer job that "I don't think we need to name a guy," and he expects the situation to eventually "solve itself." Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson are also in the mix for saves along with Stanek. The 34-year-old Stanek is the elder statesman of the group but is probably better suited for a setup role. Stanek collected a 5.30 ERA and 58:32 K:BB over 56 innings for the Mets in 2025.
Stanek agreed to a contract with the Cardinals on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Stanek endured one of the worst seasons of his MLB career during 2025, finishing the year with a 5.30 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 56 innings with the Mets. His recent performance will likely prevent him from taking on a high-leverage role right away with the Cardinals, though the team's lack of bullpen depth could enable him to pick up a handful of holds over the course of the season.
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