St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are expected to move Willson Contreras to first base and designated hitter. (Source: Derrick Goold on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Contreras is expected to fill the hole at first base with Paul Goldschmidt entering free agency. He'll look to stay healthy for the Cardinals after only playing in 84 games last season.

Michael Siani is out of the starting lineup for the Cardinals Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Siani will head to the bench for the season finale. Lars Nootbaar will cover center field and bat fourth against the Giants.

Matt Carpenter is in the starting lineup for the Cardinals Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Carpenter will start at first base and bat fifth against the Giants. He is hitting .228, with four home runs, and 15 RBI this season.

Jose Fermin is in the starting lineup for the Cardinals Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Fermin will start at third base and bat ninth against the Giants. He is hitting .149 with three RBI this season.

Masyn Winn is out of the starting lineup for the Cardinals Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Winn will head to the bench for the season finale. Thomas Saggese will start at shortstop and bat seventh against the Giants.

Andre Pallante allowed three earned runs over five innings while striking out four in the Cardinals' 6-5 loss to the Giants on Saturday.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not walking any batters, Pallante was tagged for seven hits, which contributed to his earned runs. This performance slightly raises his season ERA to 3.78 and WHIP to 1.30, reflecting a season that has been solid but not spectacular. Fantasy managers should note that Pallante's limited strikeout ability (7.0 K/9) and moderate ERA do not make him a top-tier option, but he can be a serviceable part of a rotation in deeper leagues.

Brendan Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in the Cardinals' narrow 6-5 defeat to the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: His performance today was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing outcome for St. Louis, as Donovan continues to be a reliable source of average and doubles. With a season batting average now sitting at .276 and his ability to drive in runs (71 RBI), he remains a solid option in fantasy lineups, particularly in formats that value contact hitting and doubles. However, his limited home run power and stolen base totals might cap his ceiling in categories leagues. Keep him in mind for consistent, if not spectacular, fantasy value.

Paul Goldschmidt delivered a solid performance in the Cardinals' narrow 6-5 defeat to the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Despite the loss, Goldschmidt's multi-hit game was a bright spot and could signal a potential upswing in his batting as the season winds down. His season-long batting average of .245, while not stellar, has been bolstered by performances like today's. Fantasy managers should note that while his power numbers have been decent with 22 homers, his ability to drive in runs and hit for extra bases, as seen with his 32 doubles, remains valuable. However, his high strikeout rate and relatively low walk rate continue to cap his overall fantasy ceiling.

Nolan Arenado is missing from the lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals against the San Francisco Giants Saturday. (Source: St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Arenado will take a seat on the bench for regular rest, with Thomas Saggese batting seventh and filling in at third base for manager Oliver Marmol against the Giants Saturday.

Ryan Helsley notched another save as the Cardinals topped the Giants 6-3.

Fantasy Impact: In his outing, Helsley threw 13 pitches over an inning, allowing just one hit while striking out two. This performance underscores his reliability as a closer this season, where he now boasts 49 saves. With a stellar 2.04 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, his ability to maintain high strikeout rates (10.7 K/9) and minimize walks contributes significantly to his fantasy value. Given his consistency and the Cardinals' frequent save opportunities, Helsley remains a top-tier option in all fantasy formats, especially in leagues that heavily reward saves.

Miles Mikolas earned a win, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: This performance, while not particularly dominant, was sufficient to secure his 10th win of the season, thanks to robust run support from the Cardinals' lineup. Mikolas's season has been marked by inconsistency, as evidenced by his elevated 5.35 ERA and modest 6.4 K/9 rate. His ability to limit walks, reflected in a 4.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio, remains a small silver lining. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious, as his high ERA and FIP suggest potential struggles ahead, making him a risky play in all but the most favorable matchups.

Lars Nootbaar had a productive outing, going 2-for-5 with a triple, a home run, and three RBI in the Cardinals' 6-3 victory over the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: This performance showcased his ability to contribute significantly in multiple categories, although his season-long batting average and power numbers suggest a level of inconsistency. With a .249 average and 12 homers over 107 games, Nootbaar remains a fringe fantasy option, primarily useful in deeper leagues or as a streaming option against favorable matchups. His moderate speed and decent on-base skills, highlighted by a .334 wOBA, offer some value, but fantasy managers should temper expectations given his overall hitting profile this season.

The Cardinals activated Luken Baker from the paternity list.

Fantasy Impact: Baker was away from the team for the past few days. Victor Scott was optioned as the corresponding move.

The Cardinals optioned Victor Scott to Triple-A Memphis.

Fantasy Impact: Scott appeared in three games with St. Louis. Luken Baker was activated from the paternity list as the corresponding move.

Ivan Herrera went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored in the Cardinals' 10-8 loss to the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: Herrera's solo shot contributed to his season tally, bringing his home run count to five. Despite the loss, Herrera's performance this season has been solid, maintaining a .298 batting average and a .348 wOBA, which are respectable numbers for a catcher. His ability to combine power with a decent average makes him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues, especially those that value on-base percentage. Fantasy managers should consider Herrera a viable option at catcher, particularly in deeper leagues or those that reward power from traditionally lower-power positions.

Pedro Pages went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the Cardinals' 10-8 loss to the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: His solo blast provided a spark, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rockies' offense. Pages's power display is a positive sign, but his overall season stats, including a .236 batting average and a modest .280 wOBA, suggest limited fantasy impact. His low walk rate and high strikeout rate further dampen his appeal. While the home run adds a bit to his value, Pages remains a fringe fantasy option, primarily in deeper leagues or two-catcher formats.

Kyle Gibson struggled in Thursday's 10-8 loss to the Rockies, allowing four earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over four innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance underscores a season marked by inconsistency, as evidenced by his middling 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 30 starts. The outing did little to reassure fantasy managers, especially considering his elevated 4.42 FIP and modest strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.22. Given these metrics and his latest shaky outing, Gibson's reliability as a fantasy starter remains questionable, particularly in leagues where ERA and WHIP heavily influence scoring.

Erick Fedde delivered a stellar performance, allowing just one earned run on six hits and one walk while striking out 10 over seven innings in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a bright spot in what has been a solid season for Fedde, who now boasts a 3.30 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 32 starts. His 10 strikeouts in this game are particularly noteworthy, significantly boosting his K/9 rate which stood at 7.8 prior to this game. Given his consistent performance and ability to suppress runs, Fedde remains a reliable option in fantasy rotations, especially in deeper leagues. His improved strikeout ability shown in this game could hint at an uptick in fantasy value if this trend continues.

Thomas Saggese is in the starting lineup for the Cardinals Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Saggese will start at second base and bat seventh against the Rockies. He is hitting .171, with one home run, and three RBI this season.

Alec Burleson is out of the starting lineup for the Cardinals Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Burleson will head to the bench with a left-hander on the mound for the Rockies. Ivan Herrera will serve as the DH and bat fifth.