Trending Now - Revamped Cardinals Pitching Strategy Shines in Week 9

WHO:

MLB.com - Daniel Lynch IV has a 1.59 ERA entering a recent game.

MLB.com - Nick Martinez has a 1.51 ERA, the second-lowest among qualified starters in the Majors.

MLB.com - Gerrit Cole pitched in a big league game for the first time in 569 days.

MLB.com - Sandy Alcantara hit a career-high four batters in a game against the Blue Jays.

MLB.com - Cam Schlittler is leading the Majors in ERA (1.50) and Pitching Run Value, and he's first in the AL in WHIP (0.86).

MLB.com - Joshua Báez (STL No. 3) has 13 home runs, tying him for third place in the International League.

MLB.com - Brycen Mautz is St. Louis' No. 20 prospect.

MLB.com - Nick Martinez has a 1.51 ERA, the second-lowest among qualified starters in the Majors.

MLB.com - Cam Schlittler is leading the Majors in ERA (1.50) and Pitching Run Value, and he's first in the AL in WHIP (0.86).

MLB.com - Gerrit Cole pitched in a big league game for the first time in 569 days.

MLB.com - Joshua Báez (STL No. 3) delivered his first multihomer game of the season, tying career highs with four hits and five RBIs.

MLB.com - Brycen Mautz, St. Louis' No. 20 prospect, made his Major League debut.

MLB.com - Chaim Bloom was announced to succeed John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations after the 2025 season.

MLB.com - Rob Cerfolio was hired as the new assistant general manager for player development and performance.

WHAT:

MLB.com - The Royals lost 15-1 to the Yankees, marking their 12th consecutive regular-season loss to New York.

MLB.com - The Yankees' bullpen has a 4.56 ERA and five blown saves in their last 14 games.

MLB.com - The Giants fell to 0-5 against the D-backs this season, marking their worst start to a season against Arizona in franchise history.

MLB.com - Cole pitched six scoreless innings in his return.

MLB.com - Alcantara allowed a season-high eight runs over 5 2/3 innings, becoming just the second pitcher since 1913 to allow at least eight earned runs and hit four batters in a game.

MLB.com - The Royals lost 15-1 to the Yankees, marking their 12th consecutive regular-season loss to New York.

MLB.com - Schlittler is 4-1 with a 1.02 ERA in his last seven starts, totaling 44 1/3 innings.

MLB.com - Báez raised his OPS to .852, his highest mark of the season, after a 10-day stretch where seven of his past 11 hits went for extra bases.

MLB.com - Mautz pitched three innings in his debut, allowing two runs, two walks, and recording two strikeouts.

MLB.com - Martinez has recorded 10 straight starts allowing two runs or fewer to begin a season, making him one of only 17 traditional starters in baseball’s Modern Era to achieve this.

MLB.com - Schlittler is 4-1 with a 1.02 ERA in his last seven starts, totaling 44 1/3 innings.

MLB.com - Cole pitched six scoreless innings in his return.

MLB.com - Báez hit two home runs in a 19-5 victory over Omaha, bringing his total to 13 home runs for the season.

MLB.com - Báez raised his OPS to .852, his highest mark of the season, after a 10-day stretch where seven of his past 11 hits went for extra bases.

MLB.com - Mautz pitched three innings in his debut, allowing two runs, two walks, and recording two strikeouts.

MLB.com - The Cardinals' rotation has improved to a 4.09 ERA, ranking 13th in baseball.

MLB.com - From 2020-2025, 66% of the Cardinals' starts came from pitchers acquired through free agency or trade.

MLB.com - The Cardinals spent just over $20 million on their five-man rotation this season.

MLB.com - The Cardinals' farm system was ranked fourth-best in baseball by MLB Pipeline going into the season.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The game between the Royals and Yankees took place at Kauffman Stadium.

MLB.com - The Giants' loss occurred at Oracle Park.

MLB.com - The game between the Royals and Yankees took place at Kauffman Stadium.

MLB.com - Mautz made his debut at American Family Field in Milwaukee against the Brewers.

MLB.com - Martinez has been pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays.

MLB.com - Mautz made his debut at American Family Field in Milwaukee against the Brewers.

MLB.com - The Cardinals' player development changes began in St. Louis.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The Yankees' game against the Royals was played on a Tuesday night.

MLB.com - The Giants' loss to the D-backs occurred on a Tuesday night.

MLB.com - The Royals have lost 12 consecutive regular-season games to the Yankees dating back to September 11, 2024.

MLB.com - Schlittler's next start is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. ET against the Royals.

MLB.com - Mautz's MLB debut occurred on a Monday afternoon.

MLB.com - The Cardinals announced the hiring of Chaim Bloom after the 2025 season.

WHY:

MLB.com - The Royals are falling deeper in the American League Central standings, nine games behind the first-place Guardians.

MLB.com - Alcantara's struggles have led to a ballooning ERA of 4.66 after starting the season with a 3.04 ERA through seven starts.

MLB.com - The Cardinals aimed to revamp their pitching pipeline due to a previous lack of productive starting pitchers.

MLB.com - The organization is focusing on developing young arms to ensure long-term success.

HOW:

MLB.com - Daniel Lynch is learning to be more efficient with his warm-up routine as a high-leverage reliever.

MLB.com - Cole compared his emotions during his return to a “second debut.”

MLB.com - Martinez has a 66.5% first-pitch strike rate, nearly the best of his career, and has only walked 5% of the batters he’s faced this season.

MLB.com - Báez has a 49.1 percent hard-hit rate, ranking in the 86th percentile at the Minors' highest level.

MLB.com - The Cardinals are implementing a new player development strategy that includes pitch design, delivery work, and performance resources.

MLB.com - Mautz was called up to the Major League team after a rainout postponed his scheduled start in Cincinnati.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 19:43 UTC)

In a tough outing at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals suffered a staggering 15-1 defeat to the Yankees, marking their twelfth consecutive regular-season loss to New York. Meanwhile, the Giants faced their own struggles, falling to 0-5 against the D-backs this season, which is their worst start against Arizona in franchise history. On a brighter note, Daniel Lynch is working on improving his efficiency as a high-leverage reliever, entering the game with an impressive 1.59 ERA, while Nick Martinez boasts a 1.51 ERA, the second-lowest among qualified starters in the Majors.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 17:56 UTC)

In a notable return to the mound, Gerrit Cole pitched for the first time in 569 days, delivering six scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Sandy Alcantara faced challenges, hitting a career-high four batters and allowing a season-high eight runs over 5 and 2/3 innings, making him just the second pitcher since 1913 to achieve such a feat. In other action, the Royals suffered a heavy defeat, losing 15 to 1 to the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium, marking their 12th consecutive regular-season loss to New York dating back to September 11, 2024.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 10:17 UTC)

Cam Schlittler is making waves in Major League Baseball, leading the league with an impressive earned run average of 1.50 and a WHIP of 0.86, while boasting a record of four wins and one loss in his last seven starts. Meanwhile, Joshua Báez is showing his power at the plate with 13 home runs, tying him for third place in the International League, and Brycen Mautz made his debut at American Family Field in Milwaukee, where he pitched three innings, allowing two runs and striking out two batters. Schlittler's next start is set for Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. ET against the Royals, as he continues to dominate on the mound.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 08:17 UTC)

Cam Schlittler is currently leading the Majors with an impressive ERA of 1.50 and is set to take the mound again on Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. ET against the Royals. Nick Martinez, pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays, has achieved a remarkable feat with ten straight starts allowing two runs or fewer, boasting a 1.51 ERA, the second-lowest among qualified starters. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole made a triumphant return to the big leagues after 569 days, throwing six scoreless innings in his first game back.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 06:21 UTC)

In a standout performance, Joshua Báez of the St. Louis Cardinals delivered his first multihomer game of the season, tying career highs with four hits and five RBIs during a commanding 19-5 victory over Omaha. With this impressive outing, Báez hit two home runs, bringing his season total to 13 and raising his OPS to .852, the highest mark of his season. Notably, he has maintained a 49.1 percent hard-hit rate, placing him in the 86th percentile at the highest level of the Minors.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 04:19 UTC)

Brycen Mautz, the St. Louis Cardinals' No. 20 prospect, made his Major League debut at American Family Field in Milwaukee, pitching three innings and allowing two runs while recording two strikeouts. In addition to Mautz's debut, the Cardinals announced that Chaim Bloom will succeed John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations after the 2025 season, as they aim to revamp their pitching pipeline and develop young talent for long-term success. The organization is implementing a new player development strategy focused on pitch design and performance resources, while their rotation has improved to a 4.09 ERA, ranking 13th in baseball.