St. Louis Cardinals

Keynan Middleton threw a bullpen session on Saturday. (Source: John Denton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Middleton said he’ll throw twice more in St. Louis next week and then head to Double-A Springfield for a rehab assignment.

Dylan Carlson has returned with the Cardinals on Saturday. (Source: John Denton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This doesn't mean Carlson has officially been activated from the injured list, but he appears to be close. He began a rehab assignment earlier in the week which was short.

Sonny Gray delivered a masterful performance, tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six in the Cardinals' 3-0 victory over the White Sox on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: This outing further cements his status as a top-tier fantasy option, lowering his ERA to an impressive 0.89 and WHIP to 0.86 through five starts this season. His consistent ability to rack up strikeouts, evidenced by an 11.3 K/9 rate, combined with a superb 7.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio, makes him a must-start in all fantasy formats. Given his dominant start to the season, Gray should be considered a reliable anchor for any fantasy pitching staff, with his performance seemingly sustainable given his low BABIP and elite FIP.

Ryan Helsley locked down his 11th save of the season in a pristine inning against the White Sox on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: He needed just eight pitches to retire the side, allowing no hits, walks, or runs, though he didn't record a strikeout. This performance underscores Helsley's role as a reliable closer for the Cardinals, maintaining an impressive 1.59 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through 17 appearances. His consistent ability to suppress hits and walks, combined with a solid strikeout rate, makes him a top-tier fantasy option. While the lack of strikeouts in this outing might raise an eyebrow, his season-long numbers suggest it's likely an anomaly rather than a trend. Fantasy managers should continue to deploy Helsley with confidence whenever save opportunities arise.

Willson Contreras had a productive day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base as the Cardinals blanked the White Sox 3-0.

Fantasy Impact: This performance continues a solid season for Contreras, who now boasts a .281 batting average and a .395 wOBA. His ability to get on base was on full display, adding a walk to his perfect day at the plate. The stolen base, his second of the season, along with multiple hits, helps solidify his status as a valuable fantasy catcher, especially in leagues that reward diverse statistical contributions. Contreras's consistent contact and ability to find gaps are key assets, keeping his BABIP robust at .355. Fantasy managers should continue to expect reliable production from the Cardinals' backstop as he maintains a balanced approach at the plate.

Nolan Arenado went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the Cardinals' 3-0 win over the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: His performance was crucial, driving in all the runs for St. Louis in the game. This season, Arenado's batting average sits at .279 with a modest power output, highlighted by his eight doubles and a single home run over 32 games. His consistent contact ability is evident, but the lack of home runs might be a concern for fantasy managers relying on him for power stats. However, his ability to drive in runs and hit for average should keep him relevant in most fantasy formats, especially in leagues that value doubles and RBI. His wOBA of .306 indicates solid overall offensive production, making him a valuable asset in deeper leagues and formats that reward extra-base hits.

Leahy was called up from Triple-A Memphis after Steven Matz was placed on the 15-day IL with a lower back strain. (Source: Rob Rains on X)

Fantasy Impact: The 26-year-old Leahy made his MLB debut last season, where he made three relief appearances and recorded a 21.60 ERA. The right-hander was drafted in the 17th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft and will look to provide some depth to the Cardinals' pitching staff.

Matz was placed on the 15-day IL Friday with a lower back strain. (Source: Cardinals on X)

Fantasy Impact: Matz has a 6.18 ERA through six starts with St. Louis this year. The lefty attempted to pitch through back tightness in his last start Tuesday against Detroit, but an MRI after the game revealed a strain. The Cardinals called up RHP Kyle Leahy from Triple-A Memphis to fill the spot on their 40-man roster.

Matt Carpenter (oblique) is with Double-A Springfield for a rehab assignment. (Source: Springfield Cardinals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Carpenter was set to serve as the designated hitter Thursday, but the game was rained out. The veteran will likely be in the lineup Friday as he kicks off his rehab assignment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.