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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Eyeing rehab assignment this week
Rotowire
Fernandez (back) is on track to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Fernandez has thrown one successful bullpen session since going down with lower-back pain in early June, and he will throw off the mound again Wednesday. As long as that goes well, Fernandez would be cleared for a rehab assignment. Because his absence has been brief, Fernandez shouldn't require many rehab appearances before being reinstated.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Goes on IL with back pain
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The Cardinals placed Fernandez on the 15-day injured list Friday with lower-back pain.
Fernandez hadn't pitched in nearly a week, so it could be an injury that's nagged at him for a while. Matt Svanson will take his spot in the St. Louis bullpen.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Rejoins big-league bullpen
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The Cardinals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.
Fernandez has looked sharp during his time with the big club this season, posting a 1.17 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 7.2 innings. He could get some opportunities for high-leverage innings if he continues to pitch well.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Set to be recalled Tuesday
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Fernandez will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis prior to Tuesday's game in Milwaukee, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Fernandez was technically optioned after serving as the 27th man during Saturday's doubleheader in Cincinnati, but he remained with the club and will now rejoin the bullpen. The right-hander has pitched well out of the Cardinals' bullpen this season, posting a 1.17 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 7.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Returned to Memphis
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.
Fernandez was up as the 27th man during Saturday's doubleheader in Cincinnati and turned in a stellar two-inning appearance in the second game, retiring all six batters he faced (four via strikeout). This is likely to be a temporary move, as Fernandez is a good bet to be recalled once Brycen Mautz is sent down following a spot start Sunday. Fernandez is having a nice bounce-back season out of the Cards' bullpen, posting a 1.17 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 7.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Up as 27th man
Rotowire
The Cardinals added Fernandez to their active roster to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Reds.
Fernandez has allowed one earned run in 5.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, and he'll return to the majors to give St. Louis extra bullpen depth for Saturday's twin bill. He'll likely be sent back to Triple-A Memphis following the nightcap.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.
Fernandez has pitched well in his opportunities with the big club, posting a 1.59 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings. However, the Cardinals needed to free a roster spot for Hunter Dobbins, who is starting Thursday in Pittsburgh, and Fernandez is the casualty.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Joins major-league bullpen
Rotowire
The Cardinals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Fernandez has tossed 5.2 scoreless frames with a 6:2 K:BB in the early going at Memphis. The righty reliever battled through a disastrous 2025 season in St. Louis -- holding a 7.71 ERA over 32 outings -- and will be used in low-leverage situations with the Cardinals.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Cut from big-league camp
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.
The right-hander made 32 relief appearances for St. Louis last year but struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 30.1 innings. Fernandez wasn't any better during spring training with eight runs allowed and a 7:5 K:BB across six frames, so he'll begin 2026 at Triple-A.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Collects first save of season
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Fernandez walked one and struck out two in a scoreless 10th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Reds.
JoJo Romero struggled to find the plate in the eighth inning, throwing only four of 12 pitches for strikes, and Riley O'Brien wasn't used at all after having thrown 13 pitches the night before, so the Cardinals' closer picture got a little murkier after Fernandez got the job done in the 10th. Fernandez has an 11.9 K/9 through 11.1 innings since being called up at the beginning of August, but that comes with a 4.76 ERA and 5.6 BB/9. Romero and O'Brien remain the top options for saves in St. Louis, but Fernandez may be working his way into higher-leverage usage.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Recalled from Memphis
Rotowire
The Cardinals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
After trading away Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz and Phil Maton before Thursday's trade deadline, the Cardinals will bring up Fernandez, Andre Granillo and Roddery Munoz to fill the holes in their bullpen. Fernandez, 27, has surrendered 11 runs in only 8.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, but he owns a 3.12 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 34.2 frames at Triple-A.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Fernandez pitched well in his rookie season in 2024 and came into 2025 as a setup man for the Cardinals, but he's really struggled, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) with a 7:5 K:BB over 8.2 innings. Riley O'Brien is taking his spot on the roster and in the bullpen.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Gives up walk-off homer
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Fernandez (0-2) took the loss after giving up a home run in the ninth inning Friday against the Mets.
Before Fernandez was able to record an out, Francisco Lindor took him deep to walk it off for the Mets. Ryan Helsley last pitched in Wednesday's win over the Astros, so he likely would have been called upon had it been a save situation as opposed to a tie game. Fernandez remains miles from fantasy relevance in the majority of formats to begin the season, holding a 9.00 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB over seven innings.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Returns from hip issue
Rotowire
Fernandez (hip) tossed a perfect inning in Saturday's victory over the Twins.
Fernandez was unavailable to pitch in Thursday's opener due to some hip tightness, but he was ready to go for the Cardinals' second game of the season following the team's off day Friday. The 26-year-old is in line for setup duties in St. Louis this season.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Nursing hip tightness
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Fernandez was unavailable for Thursday's opener due to hip tightness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
With Fernandez not able to pitch, St. Louis used Chris Roycroft in the seventh inning and Phil Maton in the eighth with a one-run lead, and both Roycroft and Maton responded with scoreless frames. Consider Fernandez -- who is expected to be the Cardinals' primary right-handed setup man this season -- day-to-day.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: In line to be primary setup man
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Fernandez is the favorite to open the season as the Cardinals' primary right-handed setup man, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
JoJo Romero is expected to be the main setup man from the left side for closer Ryan Helsley. Fernandez had a terrific rookie season in 2024 after the Cardinals plucked him in the Rule 5 Draft, posting a 3.51 ERA and 71:32 K:BB over 66.2 innings. He's also been superb so far this spring, tossing five hitless and scoreless innings with a 9:2 K:BB. Those in holds leagues should consider Fernandez, who also could eventually get a chance for some saves if St. Louis winds up shipping Helsley out by the trade deadline.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Takes loss Thursday
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Fernandez (1-6) allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two over one inning to take the loss Thursday versus the Rockies.
He didn't give up a home run, but the Rockies were able to connect for some loud contact against Fernandez in the eighth inning as they erased a three-run deficit. Prior to this appearance, Fernandez had allowed just one run over his last 11.2 innings despite allowing 10 hits and six walks in that span. The right-hander has pitched to a 3.51 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 71:32 K:BB with two saves, three blown saves and 12 holds over 66.2 innings this season as a 26-year-old rookie.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Handed fifth loss
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Fernandez (1-5) allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings Friday, taking the loss in extra innings versus the Blue Jays.
The walk Fernandez issued was intentional, but it ended up helping the Blue Jays load the bases with no outs in the 11th inning. Fernandez was able to get one out on a fielder's choice to erase the initial runner, but Alejandro Kirk then delivered a walk-off single. Prior to Friday, Fernandez was on a 6.1-inning scoreless streak. The rookie reliever has pitched to a 3.21 ERA despite a 1.30 WHIP and 63:31 K:BB over 61.2 innings, and he's added two saves and 11 holds.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Grabs second save
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Fernandez earned a save against the Brewers on Wednesday, issuing one walk and striking out three batters over one scoreless inning.
Fernandez came on in the bottom of the 10th inning after the Cardinals pushed across the automatic runner in the top of the frame. The right-hander got the opportunity to close because Ryan Helsley, who leads the majors in saves, tossed two innings and threw 27 pitches Tuesday. Fernandez is not a threat to Helsley's closer role despite his outstanding outing Wednesday.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Stuck with fourth loss
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Fernandez (1-4) allowed three runs on four hits over one-third of an inning, taking the loss Saturday versus the Royals.
Fernandez got the Cardinals out of trouble with two outs in the sixth inning, but he was on the hook for three of the four runs the Royals scored in the seventh. The right-hander had pitched well for most of June and into July, but he's now given up 11 runs (10 earned) over his last 10 innings dating back to July 10. He's at a 3.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 48:21 K:BB through 50.2 innings this season. While he has a save and 10 holds, it's unlikely he sees much high-leverage work as long as his struggles persist.
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