Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - UNREAL: St. Louis Cardinals Hit With DOUBLE Injury Blow—Season Hopes FADING Fast?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The last 48 hours have not been kind to the Cardinals, injuries, exhaustion, back-to-back losses. Now they're on the verge of a sweep. And that's not good. 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. Hafferin.

Starting point is 00:00:29 And today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time map, create an account. I use a cut locked on for $20 off your first purchase. It's been a bit since I've had to wear the black with the black and the gray, which I don't know if you guys have noticed when things are going well. I tend to wear brighter colors. Obviously, we get to wear the ugly shirt when they win some series five in a row. Just got snapped after the loss on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:00:55 But man, dude, injuries to the starting rotation have some wondering if maybe they should bring a former Cardinal back. We're going to get to that here in just a little bit. You had obviously the big thrilling game on Friday night where the Cardinals did lose, simply ran out of bodies. And then we have what we saw yesterday, where the Cardinals and rookie Quinn Matthews got blasted by the Phillies. But let's start with the injuries and what's going on with the rotation. Who's available to help out? You know, we said going into the series that after the amount of energy that they had to exert.

Starting point is 00:01:31 to escape from Cincinnati with a series when, that life was going to be tough in Philadelphia. And I warned you, I was like, if they go to Philly and things get ugly, don't be surprised. Just because of everything they've gone through to get up to that point, there's just not enough people left.

Starting point is 00:01:52 And scheduling-wise, we knew it didn't match up well for the Cardinals who had played eight games in seven days while the Phillies had played just five and seven. so that was an advantage for Philly. They weren't layup type of games either for the Carls. Not like they were just cruising through victories to get to this point either, as has been the case for most of the season.

Starting point is 00:02:13 Each game pretty hard fought and close outside of, ironically, the two games in Chicago against the Cubs where they won eight, four and eleven to four. Everything else, though, was pretty darn tight. Three nothing, two to one, six to five, three to nothing, five to four, 10 to 9. There's not a team alive that wouldn't be exhausted after a stretch like that. And to see them fight and claw the way they did on Friday night to push that game to extra innings, a game that, yeah, I think you and I both agree, Cardle should have won that game. You know, they had it set up to win. And they simply just ran out of bodies. You got Jose

Starting point is 00:02:52 Fermin out in center field who is not a center fielder. He goes out there because they needed him to. And at that point, enough moves had been made where that's where they had him go. And he didn't make the catch. And yeah, Nathan Church and Everson Pereira probably make those catches. But didn't happen. They lose an extra innings. It was one of those moral victories. And I know it doesn't count in the standing.

Starting point is 00:03:18 So everybody's like, well, who cares? But call me a softie or a homer or whatever you want. But that was one hell of a game. But what happened in that game, it really, put a damper on things above all else was the injury to Hunter Dobbins. And it's been an ongoing, and I don't want to say joke, but a point of pride that the Cardinals have somehow, some way, have been able to escape without dealing with any significant arm injuries to their starting rotation for quite a while now. They've been able to keep

Starting point is 00:03:47 their pitchers very healthy, healthier than anyone else in the league, really. Pitch counts, keeping an eye on their innings, even though it upsets a lot. fans who won Ali and the guys to push these guys so they don't have to rely on the bullpen as much. I get it. But it's kept these guys on the mound more than most. And when you look at the depth that you have in the system, they needed these guys to stay out there because there isn't a lot ready. There just isn't. Now they're working on that. Obviously, you look at the talent that they've got at the A and AA levels. There's a couple guys in AAA, obviously, that are starting to make their way up. But there's not a lot that was going to be a

Starting point is 00:04:28 to help this team this year. And when you lost Richard Fitz, that was a huge loss. That's not good. You're still waiting on to Coerobie to come back. Ishaun Henderson injury also dampens things. So there just wasn't a lot. So they got to keep these guys on the mound. And it all came crashing down in a 24-hour period on Friday when it was announced that Andre Palante is going on the IL with what is being described as elbow inflammation. They don't think it's anything serious, but they thought enough of it to, look, let's just rest you for a little bit and we'll get you back. First arm issue for a Cardinal since Sunny Gray in 2024, which is remarkable. Now the Cardinals also don't have a bunch of dudes

Starting point is 00:05:13 pumping triple digits. So maybe the arm injuries aren't something that should be happening to a lot of their guys already, but still pretty impressive that they've been able to keep everybody healthy. So when that injury happened, they recalled Ryan Fernandez, and we knew Quinn Matthews was already set up to start on Saturday. So now you feel like you're kind of covered. You got Quinn taken over. You're going to be good. But fourth inning on Friday, Dobbins goes down. One pitch into that fourth inning, he's gone.

Starting point is 00:05:43 Dreaded forearm tightness was the problem there. Now, the good news is because when you hear forearm tightness, I immediately think Tommy John's surgery. It's not automatic that that's what it is. But in my experience, it feels like it goes that way more times than not. But Dobbins, as I said, there was some good news here who had Tommy John surgery in college, told reporters one thing I'm confident about is that it's not the same feeling as that. It was pretty night and day difference from that feeling.

Starting point is 00:06:22 So maybe Hunter and the Cardinals dodged a bullet here. But now he's gone with a flexor strain, which sucks for everyone. because Dobbins was finally a full-time member of the rotation after kind of being that yo-yo guy for most of the year because the cardinals were healthy. They didn't need him to come up all the time. But after the dust of matriety, he earned his spot had pitched pretty well at the big leagues. And now he's gone for what I would assume would be an extended amount of time. I'm not going to, you know, mark his name off in Penn that he's done for the year. but it wouldn't shock me if he was.

Starting point is 00:06:59 They're like, all right, let's just hold up and bring him back next year. But we'll see how severe this ends up being because they'll get more testing done on Monday when they get to St. Louis. So after going almost two years without issues, the Cardinals lose two members of their starting rotation in one day. Oh, by the way, and you also have to play the hottest team in baseball. So the Phillies after winning Saturday, they've not won eight in a row. So is anyone going to feel sorry for the Cardinals? Of course not.

Starting point is 00:07:32 But the reality is the deck has been stacked against them basically all season with deciding to rebuild, which is fine. We all agreed that was the right move. They didn't spend any money. So depth was going to be an issue. The youth on the team. And they've overcome a lot of this.

Starting point is 00:07:51 for most of the year. And you do that and you feel like you're still on the hunt for this wild card. And to get to the dog days of August and be dealt two major blows like that, it sucks. So we'll feel a little bit sorry for ourselves for a moment, but you've got to move on. And the names on the 40-man roster that might be able to help with things, Bryson Mott's, who we saw briefly earlier this season.

Starting point is 00:08:17 And then former first round pick Cooper Derpy, who has looked really, really good at AAA Memphis. but again, he's coming back from an injury himself. So how much do you want to push him? Is this the right moment to bring him up to the big leagues? We'll see. There's also been mentions of reuniting with Miles Michaelis, which I think it's tongue and cheek that people are doing that online.

Starting point is 00:08:38 But at, I think a little bit in the back of your mind, you're like, what? Got DFAed by Washington, familiar name. People loved them in the clubhouse, familiar face. he's healthy wasn't very good wasn't very effective was sporting an ERA

Starting point is 00:08:57 close to seven over his last eight appearances three of those were in relief so you're not getting somebody who's doing anything good personally I'm not interested in that I don't I don't want Miles Michaelis back

Starting point is 00:09:10 I don't I we've been down that road we cut ties let's move on with our lives Lizard King God bless you, but let's keep it this way. Let's see what else we got out there. There are other free agents maybe you can look into as well,

Starting point is 00:09:26 but I think you're going to look inward at what you got in your organization first. So I want to talk about Saturday's game next, one that got off to a really bad start for Quinn Matthews and didn't get a whole lot better. But there was a silver lining to things. If we, I guess we could find something good that came out of yesterday's game. So we'll talk about it coming up next on lockdown. If you've got a sweet, too,

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Starting point is 00:12:39 Again, create an account, redeem code L-O-C-E-D-O-N for $20 off. Download the game time app today. Thanks for making Locked on Cardinals, your first list of the day. Thank you for making Locktown on the number one sports podcast network. You know bad games are going to happen for everyone. it just happens that Quinn Matthews' worst game as a major leaguer happened right when the Cardinals really needed him to not have a bad game. And such as life, you know, ish happens. Saturday after losing Palante and Dobbins, the Cardinals had to turn to the former minor league pitcher of the year to help ease the pain a little bit and eat some innings.

Starting point is 00:13:22 And instead, the Phillies showed no remorse whatsoever and came out and bash Matthews and the Cardinals. finals 12 to 3. How rude, which is to be expected from Philly because that's a really good baseball team. And the fact that they have not been able to take off all year until recently has been a bit of a shocker to me, considering how good the rotation is, that lineup they got at the deadline, they went and got pieces like this should be a team that contends for the NL Pennant. It should be. Like they should be able to give the Dodgers and give the Cubs. all they can handle and the Braves. Matthews allowed, what was it, four hits,

Starting point is 00:14:06 three runs in that first inning, and it all starts with the leadoff walk, which ironically, his only walk in the game. But he walks Cal Shwerver to get things started, and we know leadoff walks are the devil. Trey Turner singles after that, but he gets the strike out of Harper, gets a rise to fly out.

Starting point is 00:14:23 We're like, all right, maybe we can wiggle out of this little situation. but then Alec friggin-balm, who he just seems to be a thorn in the side, and he's swinging a hot bat. But I feel like any time the Cardinals play him, he's a pain of the bud. Singles on the first pitch he sees. Then it's former Cardinal at Mundo Sosa with that two-outes, who run double to right center, three to nothing right away. Nobody serves up revenge games to former Cardinals like the St. Louis Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:14:49 Like, geez, out, man. It doesn't matter if you have played years with this team or just, a handful of games. You play the Cardinals and you used to be a member, you're going to have one of your best games ever. It just seems to happen like that all the time. So in Moonasosa, there he is. Two out, two run double, three nothing. Gives up a couple more singles in that second inning, but it gets the double play ball on Trey Turner. Crisis averted there, but the third inning gets real ugly. Strikes out Harper again to start the inning, but the Phillies get four straight singles, sack fly, then it's a double. Now it's seven to nothing.

Starting point is 00:15:26 and this one feels like it's all but over. And I don't ever want to say that when it's the third inning because we've seen the Cardinals blow big leads. We've seen the Cardinals come back after being down big. But in that ballpark with the way Painter was pitching and just where the Cardinals are in their schedule, it just you're like, oh, gosh, man, this is, this is bad. And not all these pitches by Quinn Matthews were bad pitches,

Starting point is 00:15:53 but the Phillies made them work, some long counts in there and they're cooking right now and everything they hit just seemed to find grass and it was one of those days at the ballpark and now Ali at this point, you know, it's seven to nothing and he's got to decide whether to leave him in or pull him, you know, and normally if you're a fully stock team, you're healthy, you're rested and you're not worn out, you probably make a move. But Ali doesn't have that luxury right now. They're like, dude, I'm sorry you're a rookie, but you kind of have to wear this.

Starting point is 00:16:21 I need you to stay out there. They needed him to do his best, eats more innings. And that's where the silver lining for what happened on Saturday comes into play here, because Matthews was able to get through five. Instead of pulling him in that third inning, he retires the final seven hitters he faces and gets through five. So yay, but at the end of the day, very ugly line for the rookie, five innings, seven runs, 10 hits, three strikeouts. All of them, Bryce Harper, by the way, of all people, and one walk. Now, after the game, Ollie had some really good things to say,

Starting point is 00:16:55 considering the circumstances of what's going on with the team and how things went for Quinn Matthews said, you know, it was good that he was able to retire eight of the last nine in order to give us a couple of more innings because it was heavily needed. He could have easily folded, been out of there after the third. So that part is appreciated, and it's a big part of his growth as well as not giving in and being too critical when things didn't go well.

Starting point is 00:17:19 Things didn't go well after he left either. You know, Ryan Fernandez comes in in that sixth inning and immediately gets crushed. Double, single, sack fly, home run, another single, home run by Bryce Harper. 11 to 1 at this point. Pedro Pahas has to throw the eighth inning, gives up a home run to Schwerber. Cool staff by Rob Rainstow at STL Sportspage.com. The homers by Harper and Schwerber were the first for the Phillies against the Cardals this season. I didn't realize that.

Starting point is 00:17:48 But when you go back, yeah. Well, in their first four games, the Cardinals had faced 150 Phillies batters without allowing a home run. And they ran that streak to 179 before Harper's home run off Fernandez in the sixth inning. So that's kind of cool. I mean, that's a powerful lineup that you're dealing with there. Offensively, the Cardinals really didn't get anything going off a painter until the sixth inning. He pitched really well against them last time they faced him. So he's kind of got their number.

Starting point is 00:18:14 Alec Berlinson, Singled in, Blaze Jordan. J.J. Weatherholt hit his 17th home run of the year. That was in the eighth inning. Jose Fermin had an RBI in the ninth, but this game was never close. And as I've said since game one of this year, there's going to be a lot of learning going on with this team this year. And you've seen it, the growing pains up and down.

Starting point is 00:18:36 Some guys struggle. Sometimes they take off. How do they handle certain situations? How do you handle adversity? You know, it's a very young team still with their back against the wall right now. They are beat up. It's the end of August. They're dying out there right now. It's a very long season. And they're learning how difficult it is in the major leagues and how many games and how it just wears you down. You've still got all of September to still go. They're also learning, though, when the chips are down like this, what it's like to compete for a playoff spot and how difficult it is. And even in defeat where you get your brains kicked in on Saturday by a very good Phillies team, there are lessons to be learned, like how to handle such a game, how to move on from it,

Starting point is 00:19:31 how to react to the situation individually and as a team. And life is going to get any easier for him today. They get Christopher Sanchez. So could win the Cy Young this year in the National League. It's possibility. Zerowski's probably got it wrapped up, but it's possibility. And they have to try to beat him to avoid the sweep. So it's tough.

Starting point is 00:19:56 This is some harsh lessons being learned right now. The team did make a roster move this morning. So we'll get you into that. Plus, how are things shaping up around the rest of the N.O. Wild Cardiase. We'll get into all of that coming up next on Lockedown Cardinals. Let's talk about one of the most underrated organs in your body for just a moment. The liver.

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Starting point is 00:21:41 dot CO slash locked-on MLB, 35% off your first month subscription. Thanks again for making lockdown. Carnal's your first listen of the day. Thank you for making Locktown. Sports Podcast Network. The Cardinals did make a move this morning. They have activated Ramon Arias from the 60-day IL. He is in the lineup today. He is playing second base. He's bat seventh.

Starting point is 00:22:08 JJ's going to be at shortstop again with Mason Wynn still dealing with that thumb injury. Again, the boys are all beat up. It's clear an active roster spot. The team is placing Everson Ferreira on the 10-day IL with a bruise left hand after he got hit by a pitch. And it looked like it might have been broken when it happened. luckily that was not the case, but just more issues with the depth right now.

Starting point is 00:22:32 So good to see Ramon coming back. The Cardinals have a couple open spots on the 40-man roster, so no additional move is needed there. They're now at 39, I believe, on the 40-man. The team finally will get an off day on Monday before they host the Orioles on Tuesday. So while life has been pretty tough on the Cardinals recently, how has the rest of the NL Wildcard teams fared? well, the Cubs have now lost three in a row,

Starting point is 00:22:59 while the Phillies have won eight straight. So now what seemed like an insurmountable amount of space between those two teams is two games, two games. The Phillies are now two back of the Cubs for that top wild card spot, and they're only three back of Atlanta in the National League East. So not only you're facing the Phillies who are playing really well, but now they're chasing down the rest of the people and they're starting to feel themselves.

Starting point is 00:23:23 like this was the worst time to play the Phillies. And it's funny because we just played it a week ago and took two or three from them. And they did not look like the same team that we're seeing right now. Like they look hungry and aggressive and ready to go. So they're primed and ready at this moment. The Padres, who have also played really well recently, they've won their last two. And are two games up on the Diamondbacks who have split their last two games.

Starting point is 00:23:51 They beat the Reds, on Friday night, and then they got beat badly by the Redd yesterday. So they've split their last two. The Marlins have now passed the Cardinals after winning their last two games, but they're four back of San Diego. Cardinals are four and a half back. And then behind the Cardinals, you got the Pirates. They're three games back behind the Cardinals,

Starting point is 00:24:14 but they've lost their last two games and are kind of limping to the finish line here. So if the Cardinals can avoid the. sweep today, in my opinion, it would be a small miracle. Considering it's Christopher Sanchez on the mound, the way the Phillies are playing right now, everything momentum-wise is going forward for them while the Cardinals are just, we're just like, dude, we just need a break. We need a break. And all those rainouts that maybe helped them earlier this season, now it's starting to catch

Starting point is 00:24:49 up because you're having to make up all these games. And it's, it's been tough, man. it's been tough, but again, nobody's going to feel sorry for you. The Cardinals did win the game that Christopher Sanchez pitch last time around. So that was in St. Louis, but both of these teams were in completely different spots, health and energy-wise, at that point. It feels like that game was a month ago, and it really wasn't. But, yeah, it ain't going to be easy today.

Starting point is 00:25:16 Good luck, boys. That's all I can say. Good luck. Thanks for making Lockton Cardinals first listen every day. haven't already. Give us follow on X at L0 underscore Cardinals, TikTok, Instagram, locked on Cardinals, like to subscribe on YouTube. For your second list and check out MLB Game Night, every game every night until the World Series Champion is crowned. You can get local analysis on a national scale. Fine. M.O.B. Game Night on Lockton,

Starting point is 00:25:39 it will be on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast. Oh, shout out real quick to the Savannah Bananas, Adam Wainwright, David Freeze, Matt Carpenter. While the Cardinals have been out of town, the bananas have been at Bush Stadium. Hacked, sold out Bush Stadium. Good to see that happening. But it was cool to see those guys taking some swings and doing their thing. So you guys are the best fans of baseball for a reason.

Starting point is 00:26:04 We'll see you next time on Lockdown Cargos. I don't mind the Savannah bananas. People who get mad about them are silly.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - UNREAL: St. Louis Cardinals Hit With DOUBLE Injury Blow—Season Hopes FADING Fast?

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