Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - TRIMMED: Cardinals Opening Day Bullpen TAKES SHAPE After latest CUTS! Stay HOT Nelson Velazquez!
Episode Date: March 16, 2026St. Louis Cardinals trim the spring roster, setting the stage for fierce bullpen battles and breakout performances. Can red-hot Nelson Velazquez force his way onto the Opening Day lineup after leading... all hitters in home runs and RBIs this spring? 00:00 Roster Cuts & Bullpen 08:24 Nationals Game Recap 21:20 Ivan Herrera Update & 26-man Roster Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-st-louis-cardinals/ Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/ Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonstlcardinals.supercast.com/ Follow on Twitter/X: @JDSPORTSRADIO Follow the show on Twitter/X: @LO_Cardinals Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PlayStation This episode of is brought to you by MLB The Show 26. Visit https://mlbthe.show/lockedon and use code “LOCKEDON” to unlock a pack for use in Diamond Dynasty. Pre-Order now, Available March 17th on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. RATED E FOR EVERYONE. Turbo Tax Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. You can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert, and your documents get uploaded straight to your TurboTax app on the spot. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to find a store near you and book your appointment today. Robinhood You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #ForTheLou #stlcards #mlb #lockedoncardinals #stlouiscardinals Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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The roster is cut down yet again as the look of the opening day bullpen begins to take shape.
Who's staying? Who's going? This is Locked on Cardinals.
You are Locked on Cardinals. Your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network,
your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals fans. I'm J.D. Hafer, a former national radio sports anchor,
born and raised in St. Louis and a Lifetime Cardinals fan. And welcome to another episode of Lockedong Cardinals.
part of the Lockdown Podcast Network now, the number one, sports podcast network.
Thank you to our everydayers for hanging with us.
For the new people, welcome.
And this is a show serving Cardle Nation and giving you all the info about the birds on the bat.
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On today's show, we're going to get you the latest news and notes from around camp,
including when Yvonne Herrera will return to action.
What I think this 26-man roster could or maybe should look like if I was the one running
the show, we'll break down the game on Sunday, which saw the boys take down the national
six to three, thanks to another monster game from Nelson Velasquez.
But we're going to start with the newest cuts from camp, which were announced after the game.
The Cardinals announced the team has reduced its spring training roster to 36 players,
with seven players moving to minor league camp.
The team optioned pitcher Ryan Fernandez to Memphis,
Riosignan roster pitchers Luis Gastilum, Gerson Moreno and Paki Norton,
infielders blaze Jordan, and Jeremy Revis and outfielder Matt Caperniac to minor league camp.
The Cardinals currently have 29 Major League roster players and seven non-raster invitees
in their Major League camp right now.
this group of players that were sent down. I can't say that any of these guys really surprised
me all that much. As the official president of the Luis Gasolum fan club, I fully expected him
to not be on this team to get cut eventually as a pitched above AA yet in his professional
career. And he was with Team Mexico in the at WBC where he only got into two games through just
one inning total. Aloud no runs on one head did have a strikeout. He's going to take
his talents to Memphis this year to start the season. And I cannot wait, cannot wait to see his
progress. Every day, as you know, I back this dude big time. He came onto the scene in camp last
year. And I was like, whoa, who is this guy? And then you saw him do nothing but good things in the
minor leagues last year. And, you know, at camp this year. He's impressed the right people. Again,
when we talked to Ali last week,
he specifically brought up Gasolum and his changeup
and how impressive it was and how that thing is real.
So they've got an eye on Gasolum.
The next guy that I've also been rooting for,
along with most of the fan base,
at least I believe so.
I don't know who's rooting against him,
but that's Pachy Notting,
who, as you know, has had just so many injuries,
two straight years, basically on the shelf,
has looked really good this spring.
He really has appearing in six games.
He's allowed the one earned run, which was on that solo home run, over six settings of work, three hits, no walks, eight strikeouts.
When I brought him up to Ali in our conversation on Friday, he had nothing but great things to say about Packy.
And in Daniel Guerrero's piece at STL Today.com, he expanded on things as far as what's going on with Packy Norton saying that it's been a while since he's been in a season and pitching.
and being able to do that reliably is important.
This is a guy I really do believe in,
and my hope is that he's with us at some point
helping us win ball games.
His overall personality and demeanor
and his presence is contagious.
I like having him around.
And Guerrero explained that, you know,
before they want to put Packy into the MLB bullpen,
before they give him a spot there,
they want to use the time at AAA to see if he can,
be durable enough.
Day-to-day durability is the words he used,
how he handles the demands of relief
and show the consistent availability required of the role
after missing so much time.
So it makes perfect sense.
There's no need to push Pachy Notton.
Let's build him up and, you know, use him later on down the road
because I'd be shocked if Jojo-Ramaro and Justin Bruill
were the only left-handers in the bullpen
that the Cardinals use in.
in 2026. I cannot believe that that's going to happen. And Packing on might be that next guy
who's ready to go. Rakeh is still with the organization, but I think it's Packing on
next on the list. So he's just going to go down and get his, you know, build up some confidence
and whatnot. And I think he'll be ready to go. So stay healthy, obviously, the big thing with them.
Ryan Fernandez, someone that came over to Boston, shocker in the Rule 5 draft in 2024.
Had a strong season last year.
We know he regressed in a big way.
It seemed like he was always kind of climbing uphill, fighting for a spot.
Although he wasn't awful this spring.
He did have two bad games.
And ultimately, those games probably sealed his fate.
Ali said the goal for him is to get Ryan Fernandez back to a consistent velocity.
So off to Memphis should go.
Good luck to you.
I'm sure we will see Ryan Fernandez again at some point this year.
Gerson Moreno got into four games in spring.
Unfortunately, his last appearance was his toughest.
Two runs on three hits.
He is not on the 40-man roster.
So it was a very long shot for him to make the roster at best.
It was a long shot.
So no shocker there.
Position player wise, Blaze Jordan was just kind of heating up, which was good to see.
But he was always destined for Memphis as well.
And he's going to be there starting first baseman.
Javos had just hit just 214 in 28 of bats, but he did have five RBIs.
But he's down.
Matt Caperniak, he's been at the World Baseball Classic, so kind of tough to make a splash
when you're not around.
So no one that are watching you do it day in and day out.
So back to Memphis, he goes.
Bulpin wise, that leaves you with Jojo Romero and Justin Brule,
as they mentioned from the left side.
On your right side, though, you've got, you know, the guys that are for sure in.
Matt Fonson, Riley O'Brien, Ryan Stanick.
And that's going to leave you with a grouping of Chris Roycroft,
George Soriano, Gordon Grosso, Matt Pushard, and Scott Blewett.
Now, Pushard is the Rule 5 guy.
So I'm guessing they're going to do everything they can to make a spot for him,
make some room for him, so that he doesn't have to go on waivers
or get offered back to the Marlins.
So I feel like they're probably going to kind of make a
spot for him. They traded for Soriano and he's been everything they've needed, been very good.
Has it allowed a run in five appearances. It's got seven strikeouts. I don't know why you wouldn't
keep him around. Grisethel's been with Team Italy on this fantastic run that they've had in the
WBC. My gosh, has that team been fun to watch? And, you know, they haven't gotten a chance to see
him. So obviously he's not leaving the organization, but I don't know if he's going to be the guy that
cracks the opening day just because of that.
And then he got Blewett, who's been actually pretty solid.
ERA 1.80 in five appearances really only had one kind of n-appearance.
And that was the first one since that first appearance.
He's been pretty darn good.
So a lot of decisions to be made.
And then he've got the decision on whether or not you want Richard Fitz or Palante to be in
the rotation.
Are you going to go six-man rotation?
Are you going to push one of those guys to the bullpen as well?
So a lot of things still to figure out when it comes to the pitching staff.
the Cardinals on opening day and clock is ticking man we're getting super close to opening day which
is awfully exciting up next let's talk about sunday's game welcome to nellyville i'm going to use
every nelly reference until they either you know what until he's not with the organization anymore
i'm going to continue to use and abuse every nelly reference i can get welcome to nellyville he had a big
day we'll talk about it next coming up on mocked on cardinals today we're thrilled to be talking about
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So the Cardinals went on Sunday.
Final score was six to three.
Let's put the man up there, right?
Three stars at the game.
it starts with this one. Number 88.
Not sure what his number will be when he makes this team because he's got to be on here, right?
I just do not see how you can cut this man when all that Nelson Velasquez has done is hit the snout
out of the baseball better than anybody else in your camp.
Why would you get rid of him?
So he's got to be here.
I don't know how we can mess this one.
The Cardinals gave him a shot to prove that he belongs in the main.
major leagues again, and he's passing with flying colors. After another big day at the plate on
Sunday, two for three, team leading fourth home run of the spring and then another RBI single
to give him a team leading nine RBIs, along with the 333 batting average, the 436 OBP, the 727 slug,
the 1.163 OPS crazy numbers for Nelson Velasquez this spring, and he just keeps doing it.
Day in and day out. Yeah, he grotted into a devil play. Okay. But,
other two of a bad's very productive. Now, if you don't want to get negative and you don't want to
bring up the devil play, you also want to point out that this particular home run off a guy that tends
to give up a few home runs here and there because we saw plenty of it over the last few years
because he was facing former Cardinal Miles Michaelis. It was one of those patented 92 mile an hour
batting practice fast balls from Miles. Then Nelly turned on and ripped it for a three run blast in the
first inning, 109.4 miles per hour off the bat, 419.9.9.5.5.5.5.5.
foot, no doubter. I am so glad that we are on this side of the Miles Michaelis home runs now than
where we have been the last few years. It is a much better feeling and a lot more fun.
Later on in the fifth inning against a different pitcher, Nellie smacks an RBI single
the left 108.8.8 off the lumber. That scores Victor Scott. You want more thump from the right side.
There he is. Nellie has provided that. Again, I don't know what else he has to prove to make this team.
He's 27 years old, so he's not some veteran who just happens to be having a good spring.
He's got plenty of room to grow.
What if he gets better?
What if he continues on this path and gets better?
And for once, the Cardinals are finding a diamond in the rough instead of trading one away or releasing one that we've been known to do in the past recently.
So here's the thing.
Hey, if he comes back down to earth, then so be it.
No skin off your back. He's not costing you anything. So, uh, ride the wave while it is hot.
That's what I say. Um, and you got Walker scuffling. He's been in the lab instead of playing in games,
newts on the men. I, you know, Nelson Velasquez might be your opening day left fielder or right
fielder or DH. You got a couple spots you can put them in. Is it a crime to have church,
Victor Scott and Velasquez start in game one? I don't think it's crime. I think. I think.
it might hurt some people's feelings, but we'll see.
We know that they're committed to Jordan Walker.
He's not going anywhere.
They want to fix him.
They want to get this guy right.
He could be a massive piece of this organization for years to come.
Just got to get him doing it.
That's why he went to the lab to get him out of like game situations
and just kind of let him focus on all of these adjustments that he's trying to make.
But, man, Nellie got to be on this team at the very least, right?
There's no way you can get rid of them.
second start of the game. Give me some Alec Berluson. Biscuits goes two for two with the run
score to boost his batting average to 320 just out of nowhere. All of a sudden, he's hitting
320 this spring. Not only is the average up, but he's also walked a ton. He's got a team high
eight walks now. The OBPs at 500. Silver Slugger winner, doing his thing. Third star,
giving it to Victor Scott the second. Now I know he didn't have a hit in this game, but I like to
see the little things that Victor Scott does. And he had an RBI on a sack fly to give the Cardals
a four to three lead got the job done.
He did walk once and added his team leading fourth stolen base.
He's only hitting a buck 60 and I get that.
You know, it's got to be better.
You know, the walk to strikeout ratio, it's got to flip.
We got to get more walks than strikeouts, at least more of a 50-50,
which he's close to, but you got to cut down on the strikeouts of Victor Scott
because he puts it in play and that speed makes such a big difference.
So you can see how he would affect the game.
from the bottom of the order.
So I was pleased with, you know,
the contributions that Victor Scott gave on Sunday.
So he gets my third star.
And because I pick pitchers a lot.
And I get a little bored picking all the same pitchers for doing good.
But let's talk about the pitching.
Other observations from this game,
Richard Fitz, four and two thirds innings,
two runs on just one head.
He had five strikeouts, but he had those three walks.
You love the upside, obviously,
but you don't want to be your own worst enemy with the walks,
but he was able to kind of calm things down
as the game progressed. So not a horrible outing by any means.
You see the talent that he possesses.
Could they send him down to Memphis to start the season so we can remain as a starter the
whole time? Will they go six-man rotation? I don't know. That's what the next week or so is
to figure out. I'm not quite sure, but we'll talk more about that when we get to the 26-man
projected roster that I have for you a little bit later. Bulpin, strong again on Sunday.
Stannick, Romero, O'Brien, push hard, scoreless endings.
Offensively, J.J. Weatherholt, Nathan Church, Nolan Gorman had tough days.
They go a combined 0 for 8, but Gorman added another walk.
Great. Church scored a run. You love that.
We're not so worried about J.J. Weatherholt.
He's got a spot and could be at the top of the order.
So we're going to talk about projected 26-man roster, lineup, what I think the lineup could be or should be, in my opinion.
and we'll also get you some news and notes next, including the latest on Yvonne Herrera's return.
Yeah, I might have forgot.
He's on this team still, but we haven't seen him much recently.
So when's he coming back?
That information and more are coming up for you on lockdown cardinals.
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So the team is off today on Monday.
And it feels like we haven't seen Von Herrera in about a month.
It feels like it's been forever.
but good news, good news.
He is scheduled to return on Tuesday.
According to our buddy Daniel Guerrero,
two players who have missed time,
catcher D.H. Yvonne Herrera with the knee and infield to Ramon Arias,
elbow are expected back in the lineup.
Herrera is scheduled to start a DH on Tuesday.
If that goes well and he recovers,
he couldn't start a catcher on Wednesday.
Herrera has taken abats on the backfields in the past few days
and has been able to do catching drills without any discomfort in the knee,
which is awesome to hear.
We weren't overly concerned, and the Cardos were playing it safe, but you just never know.
You just never know.
A little inflammation could lead to a lot of other problems, but it looks like Yvonne Herrera
is going to be okay.
And when Ali was asked about Sunday's lineup, in particular, although, you know,
Ibn Herrera are not a part of that one, but he was asked whether or not it could be similar
to what we might see on opening day.
He told Daniel Guerrero that he doesn't have an answer to that.
Don't have an answer to that, but said that there are a couple of different ways I've looked at it, mapped it out.
I'm intrigued with both of them.
We haven't landed on.
This is what it should look like for opening day off a right-handed starter.
I think there are a couple of different ways to do it.
And he's absolutely correct.
There's a lot of interchangeable pieces on the Cardinals right now because due to the lack of star power and veteran press,
presence. Nobody's really locked into certain spots no matter what. You know, you've got the guys that, yeah, you know, they're going to be starters. But as far as the lineup goes, this might be something that, you know, moves around a little bit. And I don't know if you're a fan of that or not. I'm somebody who has no problem. Like, I don't feel like you have to have a same lineup every single day no matter what. You know, some people think that that it makes sense to have a stability type of thing to the lineup where it should be that way. I'm not.
a guy who is cool with massaging the lineup a little bit based on how people are hitting and how
people are against, you know, certain matchups and whatnot. So I don't mind if you move people around.
Like it doesn't bother me whatsoever. But if we're going to base things off of just performance,
just performance. And I know that it's not always the case. And of course, health is an important
aspect of everything that's going on with, you know, how your lineup's going to look on opening day.
But I've got a lineup for you. I've got what I think the 26 man roster could be. So
Let's do it.
Leading off and playing second base.
Your future NL rookie of the year.
J.J. Weatherpool.
Yes.
I'm putting him up there because maybe the batting average down a little bit during the spring,
but he's got the ability to go yard on you and he could steal a base off of you as well.
And not afraid to take a walk, which is something I want out of my lead off hitter.
I don't care how you get on.
Just do it.
Batting second and playing shortstop, your goal glover, Mason win.
Hasn't had the best spring offensively.
I feel like he suits this lineup better by being near the top of the lineup.
Okay.
Batting third, we're going to give you your silver slugger at the number three spot.
Alec Berluson playing at first base has done everything you want him to do this spring so far.
No reason to change anything like that.
He's arguably your best hitter in the lineup.
Yvonne Herrera will be catching and batting forth if healthy, right?
So if everything goes well, they want them to be the catcher, right?
If that's what you want, then I'm plugging them in.
Opening day, he's my catcher.
He's back in cleanup.
Nolan Gorman has had a very good spring.
He's going to be your starting third baseman.
You want to get a little left, right, left, which I'm a big fan of because it makes life
very annoying for the opposing managers when you get later in the game.
So give me right, left, right, left.
And so we're starting off left, right, left, Nolan, batten fifth, over at third base.
Behind him, Nellyville, baby.
Let's go, Nelson, Delasquez.
he's going to be my D.H. He's batting sixth.
Has done everything you could ever want
out of the right-handed hitting spot that you need.
Like you were looking for somebody who can provide you with some power.
You don't necessarily want to use another catcher there.
If you can't, it can help it.
The Lasquez has earned it.
He has.
So again, this is me, not who the Cardinals are,
but I would have Alaska's betting six.
Behind him, give me Nathan Church and left field.
I like his defense.
I like his speed. He's at a very good spring as well.
Jordan Walker is going to be in right field batting eighth.
I think that's a given that he's going to be playing right field on opening day.
I don't think there's a way that they're actually going to bench him.
That would just be, I don't know, if I feel like that would upset too many people.
So get Jordan in there.
He's batting eighth and hopefully his time in the lab has gotten things better for him.
Victor Scott's my center fielder.
He's batting ninth on the bench.
Pozo, C, Cajee, Pahas, Urias, and then my pitching staff.
I got Matthew Libertor, Dustin May, Michael McGreevy, Calahey, André Palante, and Richard Fitz.
And then I'm going Sphonson, Romero, Stannock, Brule, O'Brien, Soriano, Pushard in my ballpin.
Does that sound right to most of you?
I got Fitz sticking around.
I don't want to ship him to Memphis if I don't have to.
I want him to be up here.
And I want him to be a part of this team right away.
But if he does go, if they decide that, hey, we're going to keep Palante.
he's got major league experience. He's had a good spring. Fitz, we want to, you know,
we want to get you more acclimated into the starting rotation right away with Memphis.
And you want to send him down. I'm not opposed to that. I'm not. He'll be back up here eventually.
But if that happens, then I think that next spot goes to Chris Roycroft. And Ali had good things
to say about him on Friday. How when he first came up, you know, his head was sped him because everything
was going so fast at the major league level.
And he feels like he's finally slowed the game down.
And he's been good this spring as well.
And this is not your closer or your setup, man.
We're talking about your 13th pitcher in Chris Roycroft.
So it's not somebody who's going to be doing a lot of damage to your team if he's on there.
But things have been good this spring for Roycroft.
So maybe he's turned things around.
So that's what I got.
What do you guys think?
I'll run it down one more time for you.
Weatherhole, win, Burley, Herrera, Gorman, Velasquez,
Church, Walker, Scott on opening day, your bench, Posos, Jayce, Pahes, Ramon Urias, Libby, Mae,
McGreevy, Leahy, Palante, Fitz, Fonson, Romero, Stannick, Brule O'Brien, Soriano, Push Yard.
There's my 26th. That's what I got as of today on March the 16th.
Comment, suggestions, you're an idiot, you're a genius, all of the things.
Let me know in the comment section down below.
Tell me who you think should be in or out from what I have given you.
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