The Cardinals didn’t exactly set out to be in this spot, but here they are: back in the race, 2 1/2 games out in the National League wild card chase as they head into a key series with the Philadelphia Phillies. What was supposed to be a rebuilding season still looks that way in a lot of respects, but St. Louis has done enough to make the end of August matter.
That matters because the trade deadline is gone, but the waiver wire still offers one more path to help. Teams can claim players without giving anything up, and the order is based on which club has the worst record among those making claims. For a Cardinals team that could use more starting pitching if it wants to stay in the mix, that opens the door to a few possibilities.
One name that fits the moment is Chris Bassitt. He helped push the Toronto Blue Jays to the World Series last October, then landed with the Baltimore Orioles and hasn’t quite been the same guy this year.
Bassitt is 4-4 with a 5.08 ERA, but there’s still a case for him as a late-August pickup, especially since he’s on an expiring contract. Baltimore sits in last place in the American League East, so moving players before the end of August would make sense for them.
Even with the uneven season, Bassitt brings something St. Louis could use: experience. He’s the kind of veteran who could take the ball in a postseason game and give the Cardinals a real shot to win it.
Another possibility is Max Scherzer. The Blue Jays have also been better since selling at the deadline, though they remain under .500, and that’s what makes the idea interesting for St.
Louis. Scherzer was drafted by the Cardinals in 2003 before ultimately choosing the University of Missouri, and of course he’s a St.
Louis native.
The numbers this season aren’t pretty. The 42-year-old is 1-6 with a 7.40 ERA and has dealt with injuries.
Still, this is a pitcher whose reputation has been built on October. He isn’t the Cy Young force he once was, but the postseason track record remains real.
If the Cardinals are serious about hanging around in the race, Chaim Bloom could do a lot worse than giving fans the chance to see Scherzer in a Cardinals uniform at last.
In Other News...
Cardinals Rotation Stability Just Took A Hit Before A Huge Phillies Series
The Cardinals rotation depth took a sudden hit heading into a high-profile series with the Phillies when right-hander Andre Pallante was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right elbow inflammation. St. Louis had been counting on Pallante as part of its starter mix, and the timing of the move leaves the club adjusting on the fly as it prepares for a challenging stretch.
Quinn Mathews is scheduled to start on Saturday, while Ryan Fernandez will take Pallantes roster spot for Fridays game. The Cardinals have not yet announced the corresponding move to add Mathews, leaving one piece of the pitching plan still unsettled as they try to steady the staff before the series fully unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Catching Decision That Could Spark A Real Debate
The Cardinals latest wave of young talent has already brought one jolt, with Joshua Bez making an immediate splash after his promotion and putting his name in the record book with a home run in each of his first three plate appearances. With that kind of arrival fresh in mind, attention has shifted to another prospect in the system, catcher Leo Bernal, whose work at Triple-A has put him squarely in the conversation for a possible look in St. Louis.
Bernals case is interesting because it comes even as the Cardinals already have a crowded catching picture, yet his blend of offense and defense has been strong enough to make a call-up feel like more than just a depth move. If St. Louis is going to give him major league experience, the argument is there, especially with the current group behind the plate not exactly locking the job down. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Tough Kyle Leahy Decision At The Worst Time
Kyle Leahy has been one of the more valuable surprises in the Cardinals rotation this season, giving St. Louis steady work and blowing past his previous career high in innings pitched. For a team trying to piece together enough starting help down the stretch, that kind of reliability has mattered, but it has also created a challenge the club can no longer ignore.
According to Jeff Jones, the Cardinals are preparing to significantly scale back Leahys workload soon, with piggyback starts or a move into bullpen duties among the possibilities. He is not expected to be shut down entirely, but the timing makes the decision tricky, especially with Quinn Mathews already having two big league appearances and president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom signaling that Mathews will be part of the clubs plans the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]