For the Cardinals to snap out of their slump as they head to Colorado, success may rest on their bats.
Starting pitcher Michael McGreevy and the Cardinals open a three-game series in Colorado vs. the Rockies on Monday at 7:40 p.m.
St. Louis was swept in Arizona over the weekend and is 4-11 in its last 15 as next week’s trade deadline nears.
The Redbirds’ starting pitching woes were the main factor in Arizona, continuing the staff’s troubling trend. St. Louis starters have been pummeled for several weeks.
In the team’s last 21 games beginning with McGreevy’s last start, Cardinals starters have an MLB-worst 7.12 ERA.
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That includes an 18.2% home run-to-fly ball rate, tied for last in baseball.
Opponents are hitting .290 vs. Cardinals starters in that stretch, third-worst in baseball. The worst team: the Rockies at .295.
With the rookie right-hander McGreevy (1-1, 4.22 ERA) taking the hill for St. Louis in baseball’s most hitter friendly park, it becomes incumbent upon the Cardinals’ bats to awaken.
The Cardinals have scored the third-fewest runs in baseball this month (48) and rank near the bottom in most offensive stats in that stretch.
Colorado will send out left-hander and former Cardinal Austin Gomber (0-3, 5.65 ERA). Gomber, part of the trade that brought Nolan Arenado here in early 2021, made his season debut just over a month ago after dealing with shoulder soreness.
The Cardinals have struggled in recent games against lefty starters, losing seven of nine games started by left-handers. All of those games came while Ivan Herrera, who hits .348 vs. lefties, was out. He will bat second on Monday.
The Cardinals are 51-49, fourth in the National League Central and 8 1/2 games out of first.
The Rockies are 24-75, last in the National League West. They have the league’s worst record by a 10-plus game margin.
Gordon Graceffo sent down to make room for Michael McGreevy
Before the game, the Cardinals optioned right-hander Gordon Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis and called up Michael McGreevy to start Monday.
How to watch Cardinals at Rockies
Where: Coors Field in Denver
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (live stream link); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the Cardinals Radio Network as well as MLB.tv.
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
P: Michael McGreevy, RHP
7. Yanquiel Fernández, DH
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar, OF (left costochondral sprain): Nootbaar attempted to play through discomfort in his left side in the days leading up to the All-Star break but was forced to exit games early on July 10 and July 12 when the issue flared up before being placed on the 10-day IL on July 13. Since he’s dealt with the issue, Nootbaar has reaggravated the injury on check swings. He remained in St. Louis when the Cardinals began their first road trip of the second half in Arizona. The goal is for Nootbaar to begin a swing progression by Monday back in St. Louis. Updated July 18
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B (back tightness): Gorman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday (retroactive to Friday), a day after he scratched from the Cardinals’ starting lineup for their Friday opener in Arizona because of tightness in his back. Before the first half of the season wrapped, Gorman was unavailable from the Cardinals’ bench on July 13 after his “lower back locked up on him,” Marmol said. Updated July 19
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated June 19
