The Cardinals are staring at an ugly milestone after Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a defeat that locked in their 82nd loss and made back-to-back losing seasons official. St. Louis has now finished under .500 in three of the last four years dating back to 2023.
But the schedule still has one last stop. The Cardinals head to American Family Field for a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers, who have already clinched the best record in Major League Baseball and could choose to rest some regulars.
St. Louis will line up Michael McGreevy, Quinn Mathews and Andre Pallante for the weekend series.
McGreevy gets the ball first on Friday against Robert Gasser. The right-hander has put together a strong first full season in the rotation, going 7-9 with a 3.84 ERA in 30 starts.
A 2021 draft pick who debuted three years later, McGreevy has logged 164 innings and struck out 113 batters. His last outing, against the Washington Nationals, was a shorter one than the Cardinals wanted; he gave up two runs in four innings.
With Kyle Leahy’s season over, McGreevy is now the club’s most dependable starter.
Saturday brings another look at Mathews, whose outings have steadily trended upward for St. Louis.
The left-hander has had one rough start in Philadelphia, but outside of that, he has looked increasingly comfortable in the rotation. In his most recent start against the Washington Nationals, he worked seven innings and helped the Cardinals complete a comeback win.
That’s the kind of performance that keeps building his case for a spot in the rotation in 2027.
The weekend wraps up with Pallante against Jacob Misiorowski. Pallante took the loss Tuesday against the Pirates, though he only allowed one run over six innings.
It’s been a strong rebound season for him after a difficult 2025, and he has a chance to finish on a high note and head into the offseason with more confidence. Pallante has done his best work by keeping the ball on the ground and leaning on his defense, and if that holds up, Sunday should set up a solid pitching matchup.
The Cardinals will be trying to get to 80 wins.
In Other News...
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Third Base Battle Worth Watching
Third base has quietly become one of the Cardinals more interesting long-term questions, and it has put Jesus Baez on the radar in a real way. The 21-year-old infielder spent 2026 showing the kind of power that forces a front office to pay attention, finishing with 41 homers across 118 games and giving St. Louis a potential answer in the farm system if the position keeps trending the wrong way.
Baez still has some climbing to do, since he has not played above Double-A yet, but the path is starting to look easier to imagine than it did a year ago. With the current options at third base underperforming, the Cardinals could have a legitimate opening for competition in 2027, and Baez is now one of the names worth watching as that job begins to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Prospect Mason Molina Is Raising A Bigger Rotation Question
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For St. Louis, the interesting part is no longer simply that Molina looks like a useful prospect. It is where he fits next. A pitcher who is already flashing enough polish to look viable in a big-league rotation can also become a valuable piece in a different way, and the Cardinals now have a decision to keep in mind as his stock keeps rising. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Rebuild Suddenly Carries One Intriguing Timeline For Fans
With the Cardinals officially out of playoff contention for a fourth straight year and sitting at 76-80 on Sept. 22, attention in St. Louis has shifted from the present disappointment to what the next competitive club might look like. The organization has spent the season in rebuild mode, and part of the appeal for fans is starting to see the outline of a younger core take shape.
Broadcaster Stefan Caray put a brighter timeline on it recently, suggesting the Cardinals could be back in the National League Central race by 2027 if the right pieces continue to develop. Prospects such as catcher Rainiel Rodriguez and pitcher Liam Doyle are projected to arrive as soon as next season, giving St. Louis a potential path to improvement that could make the next couple of years feel a lot more relevant than the current standings do. [Read more 🡒]