St. Louis Cardinals

Miles Mikolas endured another rough outing, allowing three earned runs on six hits and zero walks while striking out four over six innings in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: This performance continues a troubling trend for Mikolas, whose season ERA now balloons to 5.68, coupled with a 1.39 WHIP through seven starts. Despite a decent strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.14, his high ERA and FIP suggest that he's been genuinely struggling rather than falling victim to bad luck, as indicated by a .328 BABIP. Fantasy managers should be wary of relying on Mikolas in their rotations, as his current form offers little in terms of reliability or upside.

Willson Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Cardinals' 4-1 loss to the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's struggles, Contreras managed to contribute by sending one over the fence, marking his fifth homer of the season. However, his three strikeouts in the game highlight an ongoing issue with his contact rate, which could be concerning for fantasy managers. With a batting average of .258 and a modest RBI total, Contreras's power is a plus, but his high strikeout rate and relatively low walk rate suggest a volatile fantasy output. Owners should monitor his performance closely, especially in leagues where strikeouts are penalized.

Steven Matz is reportedly scheduled for an MRI on Thursday. (Source: Katie Woo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Matz appeared to get banged up in his last start on Tuesday. There should be a further update on his status once he undergoes the MRI.

The Cardinals optioned Kyle Leahy to Triple-A Memphis. (Source: Jeff Jones on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Leahy was called up on Tuesday as the 27th man for the doubleheader against the Tigers. He allowed two runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings during his appearance.

Masyn Winn is back in the lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday. (Source: St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Winn returns after taking a seat on the bench for the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday, batting seventh and starting at shortstop for manager Oliver Marmol against the Tigers Wednesday.

Kyle Gibson allowed just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine across seven frames against the Tigers on Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact: Gibson is not typically one to rack up a ton of strikeouts, but he did that in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers. The veteran righty is on a nice three-start run right now, turning in a 1.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 18-to-8 K/BB ratio across his last 19 innings.

The Cardinals transferred Drew Rom to the 60-day injured list. (Source: Jeff Jones on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Rom has been on the injured list since before the start of the season with left bicep tendonitis. He remains without a clear timetable to return.

Lars Nootbaar is making his first start of the season in center field in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers. (Source: Katie Woo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Nootbaar opened the season seeing most of his starts in right field. With the Cardinals lineup struggling, manager Oli Marmol made some changes to the lineup which included moving Nootbaar to center field.

Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis. (Source: John Denton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Carlson has completed his ramp-up program and is ready to begin rehab games as he recovers from an AC joint sprain. Fantasy managers should expect Carlson to need a lengthy rehab assignment before being activated by the Cardinals.

Lance Lynn allowed one run on five hits over five innings with three strikeouts and three walks on Sunday against the Mets.

Fantasy Impact: Lynn took the no-decision and now carries a 2.64 ERA on the season.

Ryan Helsley notched another save as the Cardinals topped the Mets 7-4.

Fantasy Impact: In his outing, Helsley allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one over an inning of work to secure his ninth save of the season. Despite a couple of baserunners, Helsley managed to keep his ERA impressive at 1.80, maintaining a solid WHIP of 1.00. His ability to strike out batters at a high rate (10.2 K/9) and a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.50) continues to make him a reliable option in fantasy leagues, especially in categories that reward saves and strikeouts. While the occasional walk might raise eyebrows, his overall performance this season suggests he remains a top-tier closer.

Sonny Gray delivered a strong performance, allowing just one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine over six innings in Saturday's 7-4 win against the Mets.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a stellar start to the 2024 season for Gray, who now boasts a 1.16 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP through five starts. His 12.3 K/9 and 8.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio are particularly impressive, underscoring his dominance on the mound. Fantasy managers should feel confident in Gray's ability to maintain high-level performances, given his consistent strikeout numbers and control. His low BABIP suggests some luck, but his excellent FIP indicates that his success is well-deserved. Gray remains a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Nolan Arenado went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in the Cardinals' 7-4 win over the Mets.

Fantasy Impact: While his power numbers have been modest this season, with only one home run to his name, Arenado's ability to contribute in multiple categories continues to make him a valuable asset in fantasy lineups. His batting average remains solid at .284, and his consistent on-base skills are highlighted by a .307 wOBA. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his strikeout and walk rates, which suggest he's maintaining a decent approach at the plate. Despite a lower-than-expected power output so far, Arenado's overall production keeps him relevant in most fantasy formats.

Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 in the Cardinals' win over the Mets, contributing a double, two runs scored, two RBI, and a stolen base.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a challenging season with a batting average of just .214, this performance could hint at a potential upswing for Goldschmidt. His ability to drive in runs and score twice in this game, coupled with a stolen base, showcases his versatility. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious; his high strikeout rate of 0.301 and low wOBA of .272 suggest that consistent production might still be a challenge. This game could be a spark for Goldschmidt, but he'll need to string together more performances like this to regain top fantasy form.

Alec Burleson went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the Cardinals' 4-2 victory over the Mets.

Fantasy Impact: His performance was highlighted by a critical home run that helped secure the win for St. Louis. Despite a modest .259 batting average over 20 games this season, Burleson's ability to drive in runs was on full display, bringing his RBI total to five. His power stroke hasn't been consistent, as evidenced by this being only his first homer of the season, but games like this could hint at potential for more impactful hits as the season progresses. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Burleson for signs of increased power, but temper expectations given his overall performance metrics and sporadic production.

Matt Carpenter (oblique) was able to take swings on the field Friday. (Source: John Denton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Carpenter is set to swing again Saturday before the Cardinals' game and the team will wait to see how he responds. If he is able to avoid any setbacks, he should be sent out on a rehab assignment soon.

Ivan Herrera is in the starting lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday. (Source: St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Herrera will take the field for manager Oliver Marmol, starting behind the plate at catcher and batting fifth against the Diamondbacks Wednesday.

The Cardinals have recalled John King from Triple-A Memphis. (Source: Cardinals on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: King will take the roster spot of Zack Thompson, who was optioned in the corresponding move. The 29-year-old has a 3.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in six games in Memphis this season.

Jose Fermin has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis. (Source: Cardinals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fermin will take the roster spot of Jordan Walker, who was optioned Wednesday. The 25-year-old will provide infield depth for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have optioned Zack Thompson to Triple-A Memphis. (Source: Cardinals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Thompson has struggled since moving to the bullpen, posting a 13.50 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 6 2/3 innings pitched. The team recalled John King to take Thompson’s spot in the bullpen.