Mets Rumors: Brewers GM Matt Arnold Eyed for Team President Vacancy
Oct 26, 2021
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: A New York Mets batting helmet in the dugout before a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
The New York Mets are reportedly considering Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold for their president of baseball operations vacancy, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
The Mets might have extended an offer to Arnold, Puma added.
Arnold has been with the Brewers since the fall of 2015, when he was hired as the team's vice president and assistant general manager. He became the 10th general manager in Milwaukee history in November 2020.
Before joining the Brewers, the 42-year-old spent nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and assisted with player acquisitions and evaluations, along with contract negotiations. He has also worked for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers.
The Mets initially had their sights set on Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns but were denied permission to speak with him, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported last week.
Oakland Athletics executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane, former Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein and San Francisco Giants general manager Scott Harris were initially being considered for the position, according to Puma. Beane and Epstein were not interested in the job, while Harris recently withdrew himself from consideration.
Mets owner Steve Cohen could make an internal hire if Arnold declines the job, Puma added, and assistant general manager Ian Levin and vice president of amateur/international scouting Tommy Tanous are being considered.
It has been a lengthy front-office search for the Mets, to say the least. The club was unable to hire a president of baseball operations last winter and hired Jared Porter as general manager with the intention that he could one day serve as president.
However, Porter was fired just weeks following his hiring after it was revealed he engaged in inappropriate conduct in 2016, which included sending "explicit, unsolicited texts and images" to a female reporter, according to ESPN's Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan.
Assistant general manager Zack Scott was elevated to acting GM and seen as a possible candidate to replace Porter before an August DWI charge put his status with the organization into question.
The Mets finished the 2021 season with a disappointing 77-85 record. While changes are coming in the front office, the team is also looking for a new manager after firing Luis Rojas and could make several changes on the field before the 2022 campaign begins.
Oliver Marmol Reportedly to Be Hired as Cardinals Manager After Mike Shildt's Exit
Oct 25, 2021
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 11: (L-R) Bench coach Oliver Marmol and manager Mike Shildt #8 of the St. Louis Cardinals look on during batting practice prior to game one of the National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium on October 11, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals are hiring Oliver Marmol as their next manager, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal.
The 35-year-old was St. Louis' bench coach last season, and ESPN's Jeff Passan reported he was "the favorite from the start" after the Cardinals fired Mike Shildt.
Shildt's departure came as a surprise after the team rallied to qualify for the National League Wild Card Game. The Cardinals were 252-199 in his three-plus seasons in charge.
President of baseball operations John Mozeliak chalked the move up to a "philosophical difference" the two sides couldn't bridge. Woo reported the issues arose midway through the 2021 season and didn't arise suddenly once the year ended.
Turning around and promoting Marmol seemingly speaks to a desire to avoid overhauling the coaching staff.
Maintaining continuity can be beneficial for a franchise that's coming off three consecutive playoff appearances and should have the bulk of its roster back. Nolan Arenado has confirmed he intends to opt in for 2022. Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright are committed for at least one more year.
Some may have some reservations about Marmol's promotion, though.
Woo noted he'll be the youngest manager in MLB. The Cardinals will be aiming for the postseason once again, so the Florida native won't have much time to settle into the new job before he'll need to deliver results.
And for as much as "The Cardinal Way" has guided the organization, skeptics may counter that an outsider may have helped freshen things up a bit.
Shildt had been the third-base coach and bench coach prior to ascending to the manager position. His predecessor, Mike Matheny, played five years for the team and transitioned to an advisor role in retirement before succeeding Tony La Russa.
Shildt's experience with the Cardinals didn't prevent his eventual impasse with the front office, and Matheny's tenure isn't remembered all that fondly despite the early success he enjoyed.
Perhaps Marmol will succeed where Shildt failed, and his age means he could be a good fit for a rebuild if Mozeliak decides to pivot away from the older stars on the roster.
MLB Rumors: Cincinnati Reds Interested in Retaining Nick Castellanos
Oct 20, 2021
Cincinnati Reds' Nick Castellanos watches as he hits a sacrifice fly during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Outfielder Nick Castellanos "will obviously" opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Cincinnati Reds and hit free agency, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Castellanos has at least $34 million remaining on his deal, including a $16 million salary in both 2022 and 2023 as well as a mutual option in 2024 that features a $2 million buyout. The Reds have "interest in retaining him," per Heyman, but it would likely take a larger deal to keep him under team control.
The 29-year-old earned his first career All-Star selection in 2021 while producing a .309 batting average, 34 home runs and a .939 OPS, all career highs in his ninth major league season.
Castellanos led the Reds with 100 RBI and helped key an offense that ranked second in the National League in batting average and fourth in runs scored.
It's enough for the outfielder to likely opt out of his initial four-year, $64 million deal after just two seasons. He also had an opportunity to opt out after the 2020 season, per Spotrac, although he struggled to a .225 average with 14 home runs in 60 games.
The veteran has proved himself as a quality hitter in the past, hitting 104 home runs across seven seasons with the Detroit Tigers. He was arguably at his best in 2019 after a midseason trade to the Chicago Cubs, exploding for a .321 average with 16 home runs in just 51 games.
There would still be question marks for any interested teams, however, most notably on defense.
Castellanos finished 2021 with negative-seven defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs. He is responsible for 93 runs lost during his career, including 48 in the outfield and 45 at third base.
Assuming he opts out, It might take a move to designated hitter for a team to take advantage of his value at the plate.
Carter Hawkins Officially Hired as Cubs GM After 14 Seasons with Cleveland
Oct 15, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 31: A view of the Chicago Cubs logo in the second inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cubs defeated the Twins 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs have named Carter Hawkins their 16th general manager in franchise history, the club announced Friday.
Hawkins spent 14 seasons with Cleveland in various roles, including the past five as the club's assistant general manager.
The 37-year-old takes over for Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who was recently promoted after Theo Epstein stepped down as team president.
"I am thrilled to bring Carter into our organization," Hoyer said in a statement. "He has earned a fantastic reputation as a leader through hard work, open-mindedness, humility and intelligence.
"I look forward to partnering with him to build the next great Cubs team."
Before serving as Cleveland's assistant general manager, Hawkins was the club's director of player development and was also a professional scout. He began his career as a scouting intern for Cleveland in 2008 after playing catcher for Vanderbilt, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Human and Organizational Development, the Cubs said in a press release.
Hawkins' player development background was intriguing for the Cubs as they continue to develop talent after moving on from several core players within the last year, including Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber.
After parting ways with those veterans, the Cubs now have a younger and less expensive roster. However, it's unclear if Chicago plans to use any of that extra payroll space to make some big signings this winter.
Hoyer has stated in the past he intends to "spend money intelligently" this offseason but reiterated the Cubs will be ready to be "really active in free agency."
Plugging holes in the Chicago lineup won't be easy for Hawkins. The team could use help in almost every area, and adding a few seasoned veterans with a high price tag probably won't be enough to push the Cubs back into playoff contention in 2022.
Chicago finished fourth in the NL Central this season with a 71-91 record, and it's unlikely the club overtakes the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds in the division any time soon.
Mike Shildt Fired as Cardinals Manager After 3-Plus Seasons
Oct 14, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Manager Mike Shildt #8 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks on the field prior to their National League Wild Card Game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals have fired manager Mike Shildt.
"We have determined we have a philosophical difference in the direction our major league club is going," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters Thursday.
The move comes as a surprise since the Cardinals won 90 games and snagged one of the National League's two wild-card spots with a seven-game cushion on the next-closest team, the Cincinnati Reds.
Mozeliak provided little in the way of specifics as to the divide that suddenly emerged between Shildt and the front office:
Mozeliak said the situation with Shildt was "something that just popped up recently." Doesn't seem as though this was something that had been festering throughout the season. The two sides had held no discussions about an extension.
Asked why he couldn't simply tell Shildt that the front office philosophy was the one that needed to be followed, Mozeliak said, "I could tell you to jump out of your car right now and you may choose not to."
He added that he's "not really prepared to answer" whether the Cardinals will promote from within or cast a wider net in their managerial search.
Shildt was St. Louis' third-base coach and bench coach prior to replacing Mike Matheny midway through the 2018 season. Matheny spent five seasons with the team as a player and worked within the organization for a few years before getting promoted to manager.
Given the success the Cardinals enjoyed under Shildt, fans may be asking for more context behind the "philosophical difference."
St. Louis was a playoff team in each of his three full seasons at the helm and had a .559 winning percentage. He also oversaw a 17-game winning streak down the stretch that catapulted the Cards into the postseason.
Managerial changes like this can occasionally signal a forthcoming rebuild or, at the opposite end of the spectrum, a desire to attain a higher level than ownership and front office believe they can reach under the current structure.
Nolan Arenado has already said he plans on returning to St. Louis for 2022 rather than opting out of his deal. Adam Wainwright signed a one-year extension, and Yadier Molina is going to give it one more year before retiring.
The Cardinals aren't going to be tearing their roster down anytime soon, so perhaps Mozeliak had reservations about Shildt's ability to guide the franchise to a World Series in 2022.
If that was the case, now was the time to pull the trigger because the three-year contract Shildt signed in 2019 was due to expire after next season. Having a lame-duck manager in the dugout likely wouldn't have served anybody's interests.
Max Fried Strikes Out 9 as Braves Beat Brewers 3-0 to Even NLDS at 1-1
Oct 10, 2021
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves, right, is congratulated by Travis d'Arnaud #16 after getting the final out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 24, 2021 in San Diego, California. The Braves won 4-0. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves have evened up their National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 3-0victory at American Family Field on Saturday.
After being held to one run on four hits in Game 1, the Braves needed a jolt of energy to get back in the series. They haven't won a best-of-five series after dropping the first two games since the playoffs expanded in 1995.
Both pitching staffs were fantastic Friday. The Brewers eventually broke through on Rowdy Tellez's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh that turned out to be the difference.
The stellar pitching continued in Game 2, as Max Fried was able to outduel Brandon Woodruff.
Fried only allowed three hits and struck out nine in six innings. Austin Riley provided the power with a solo homer. Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies also drove in runs for the Braves.
Woodruff was a hard-luck loser, giving up just three runs on five hits over six innings.
Notable Game Stats
Max Fried (ATL): 6 IP, 3 H, 9 K (81 pitches)
Austin Riley (ATL): 2-for-4, HR, RBI
Freddie Freeman (ATL): 1-for-3, RBI, run scored
Brandon Woodruff (MIL): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 7 K (91 pitches)
Willy Adames (MIL): 1-for-4, 2B, 3 K
Braves Stars Shine in Win
As much fun as it is to have an unexpected hero emerge in the playoffs, sometimes the simplest answer for a team with its back against the wall is to rely on its stars.
In the case of the Braves, that meant getting a big effort from Fried and Riley.
Fried has been Atlanta's best pitcher since the start of last season. He's posted a 2.84 ERA in 221.2 combined innings over the past two years. The southpaw stepped up in a big way Saturday to get the Braves back in the series.
The key to Fried's success was being able to get ahead in the count early and throw his curveball to put hitters away.
Max Fried has been working between 95 and 71 mph today, throwing his breaking ball nearly 50 percent of the time. pic.twitter.com/GJBNA3c2iZ
Milwaukee didn't have a runner reach second base until Willy Adames' two-out double in the bottom of the sixth. The threat ended when Fried struck out Eduardo Escobar on a 96 mph fastball.
While Fried was taking care of business on the mound, the heart of Atlanta's order supplied the offense.
Freeman got the scoring started with an RBI single in the top of the third. The reigning NL MVP crossed the plate on Ozzie Albies' double that just missed clearing the fence in right field.
The breakout 2021 season for Riley has been instrumental in Atlanta being able to maintain a high level of play in the wake of Ronald Acuna Jr. tearing his ACL on July 10.
Riley got better as the year went on, posting a .976 OPS and 19 homers after the All-Star break (he had a .826 OPS and 14 home runs in the first half). His second career playoff homer is the latest step in his emergence as a star in the big leagues.
Pitching is going to be the key for Atlanta's potential success in the playoffs, but its trio of stars in the lineup was able to break through against one of the NL's best starters to set the stage for a pivotal Game 3.
Quiet Offense Leaves Brewers Searching for Answers
Through the first two games of the series, Milwaukee's pitching staff has only given up four runs.
Woodruff didn't have his best outing of the season, but he pitched well enough to keep his team in the game.
The problem, as has been the case all season, is the Brewers' inability to score runs when Woodruff is on the mound.
Brandon Woodruff's 2.86 runs of support per nine innings were the lowest of any of MLB's qualifying pitchers during the regular season. Today against Max Fried: Zero runs.
Woodruff was replaced by a pinch-hitter after 6ip, 5h, 3er, 1bb, 7k. 91 pitches.
The top four hitters in Milwaukee's lineup have combined to go 4-for-30through two games against the Braves. The Brewers' best chance to get on the board came in the final two innings.
Braves reliever Tyler Matzek walked Jace Peterson and gave up a bloop single to Kolten Wong to start the bottom of the eighth. Adames, who was the Brewers' best hitter after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on May 21, struck out for the first out.
Matzek got Escobar to fly out to right and Avisail Garcia to strike out to end the rally with no runs allowed.
After the Brewers once again put their first two runners on with no outs in the ninth, Braves closer Will Smith escaped trouble by getting Lorenzo Cain to fly out and Luke Maile to ground into a double play to end the game.
Milwaukee's lack of runs through two playoff games doesn't come as a total surprise. Offense wasn't a strength for the NL Central champs in the regular season.
The Brewers ranked last among all playoff teams in batting average (.233) and slugging percentage (.396). Their .317 on-base percentage was only better than the St. Louis Cardinals (.313) among the 10 postseason clubs.
Adames and Tellez are the only two Milwaukee hitters who have an extra-base hit in 18 innings against the Braves.
If that trend continues, the Brewers' hopes for a long postseason run will be dashed.
What's Next?
The series will move to Truist Park for Game 3 on Monday at 1:07 p.m. ET. The Brewers have yet to announce their starting pitcher. The Braves will send Ian Anderson (3.58 ERA in the regular season) to the mound.
MLB Playoffs 2021: Odds, Daily Fantasy Predictions for Saturday's NLDS
Oct 9, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Kevin Gausman #34 of the San Francisco Giants and teammates celebrates after Gausman hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to score Brandon Crawford #35 to defeat the Atlanta Braves 6-5 in the bottom of the 11th inning at Oracle Park on September 17, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
After sharing the spotlight with the American League on Friday, the two National League Division Series will have the stage all to themselves Saturday.
Game 2 of the San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves-Milwaukee Brewers series are set to be played.
Looking ahead to these matchups, let's go over the odds and some notable fantasy bets that can help add to your enjoyment of the NLDS.
2021 NLDS Game 2 Odds
Atlanta Braves +114 (wager $100 to win $114) at Milwaukee Brewers -134 (wager $134 to win $100)
Los Angeles Dodgers +158 at San Francisco Giants -192
With a lighter playoff schedule than there was Friday, the DFS pickings are slimmer. But each of the four teams boasts one player who looks poised to have a standout performance.
Atlanta starter Max Fried is arguably the best bet among all four starting pitchers Saturday. The southpaw had a terrific regular season with a 3.04 ERA and career-low 1.09 WHIP in 28 starts.
Even though the playoffs are an entirely different animal, Milwaukee's lineup plays into Fried's hand.
Per Zach Kram of The Ringer, the Brewers are the only team in the divisional round who posted a below-average wRC+ (97) in the regular season. Their 738 runs scored ranked a respectable 12th in MLB, but depth is an issue for the NL Central champs.
Only four of Milwaukee's eight regular position players had an average or better OPS+ (100). Fried is also a rare left-handed starter who gets opposite-handed hitters out at a better rate than same-handed hitters.
Righties had a .611 OPS against Fried in 2021, compared to a .707 mark against lefties.
It projects to be a very low-scoring game at American Family Field, so Brandon Woodruff is the must-start player from the Brewers you need to add.
Woodruff was overshadowed in his own rotation this season by Corbin Burnes, but the 28-year-old has been brilliant in his own right. Opposing hitters had a .573 OPS against him in 2021, and he has a deep repertoire of pitches to get outs.
Only 7 pitchers recorded a run value of at least -5 on three different pitches this season (min. 100 PAs against each pitch):
Brandon Woodruff Lance Lynn Lance McCullers Max Fried Walker Buehler Zack Wheeler Marcus Stroman (-6 slider; -5 cutter; -5 sinker)@STR0#Mets#LGM
The Braves aren't a high-contact offense. They had 1,453 strikeouts during the regular season, 11th-most in MLB. Woodruff should have no problem putting up zeroes and notching a lot of strikeouts in this game.
In the Dodgers-Giants game, you could go in any number of directions and feel confident about where things will end up.
Los Angeles catcher Will Smith is an under-the-radar option, at least on his own team. The 26-year-old would be the best hitter in most other lineups across MLB.
Smith's .270/.383/.529 slash line with 19 homers against right-handed pitching this season bodes well for a matchup against Giants star Kevin Gausman. He's also gotten stronger as the year has gone on with a .936 OPS after the All-Star break, compared to an .800 mark in the first half.
In 16 games against the Giants during the regular season, Smith had a .275/.393/.490 slash line.
From the Giants side, Evan Longoria is a potential sleeper to go off in a game being started against Julio Urias. The three-time All-Star had a 1.088 OPS against lefties during the regular season.
That stat line does come with a bit of a caveat since Longoria only played 81 games and had a total of 66 at-bats against southpaws. He also didn't play in any of the 19 matchups between the Giants and Dodgers in the regular season.
This does make Longoria more risky than the other players who have been mentioned. But one reason to feel more optimistic is because he has historically hit well against left-handed pitching. Longoria's career OPS against southpaws is 89 points higher (.872) than it is against righties (.783).
A big playoff game from Longoria would also be in keeping with this Giants season. He doesn't jump out at you on initial glance, but 107 wins later, it's hard to deny that this is a great team that has the potential to go far in October.
Adam Wainwright Reportedly Agrees to Contract to Return to Cardinals in 2022
Oct 1, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 13, 2021 in New York City. St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Mets 7-0. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Pitcher Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to an extension through the 2022 MLB season, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The three-time All-Star signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Cardinals for 2021. His return will extend his tenure in St. Louis to 18 seasons.
Given his age (40), retirement seemed a logical outcome for the right-hander when the Cardinals' playoff run comes to an end. Physically, though, he has plenty left in the tank.
In 32 appearances, Wainwright is 17-7 with a 3.05 ERA and 3.65 FIP, per FanGraphs.
According to Brooks Baseball, neither Wainwright's four-seam fastball nor his sinker is averaging 90 mph. Despite that, opposing hitters have only a .380 expected slugging percentage and a .273 weighted on-base average against him, per Baseball Savant.
As the Cardinals caught fire during the stretch run, Wainwright was a key figure in their success.
#StLCards Adam Wainwright was 10-1 with a 2.28 ERA and opponents hitting .209/.252/.319 against him during his final 14 starts of the season. St. Louis was 13-1 during those games... the only loss? A shutout against the Brewers led by Corbin Burnes on Aug. 17, 2021. https://t.co/cgOonSeLc6
In August, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt compared Wainwright to franchise legend Bob Gibson:
He expected to dominate, Mr. Gibson. Waino expects to go out and dominate. Waino expects to go nine. Waino expects to go deep in a game. Waino expects to make pitches when he needs to. Waino expects to get it done.
“And it's great to expect all those things, but people can say anything they want. … He creates a high standard, which is a great start, but then he does all the work that leads up to being able to satisfy those standards.
With Wainwright coming back, St. Louis' starting rotation is largely set for 2022. Miles Mikolas, Carlos Martinez, Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson are all either signed or under team control. Left-hander Matthew Liberatore, the team's No. 2 prospect on MLB.com, figures to factor in as well.
Wainwright's extension would allow him to walk away alongside his most frequent batterymate. Catcher Yadier Molina has confirmed he plans to retire at the end of the 2022 campaign. This time next year, the Cardinals may witness the end of an era.
Dylan Carlson, Cardinals Beat Brewers to Bounce Back After Win Streak Snapped
Sep 30, 2021
St. Louis Cardinals' Dylan Carlson celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in St. Louis. Carlson also hit a solo home run during the third inning. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
After snapping their 17-game win streak on Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals bounced back with 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday afternoon. Dylan Carlson led the way by hitting two home runs, including the go-ahead two-run blast in the sixth inning to secure the win.
The Cardinals got a solid outing out of starter J.A. Happ, who struck out seven batters in six and one-third innings.
Notable Performers
Cardinals CF Dylan Carlson: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Cardinals SP J.A. Happ: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Brewers 2B Luis Urias: 1-for-4, solo HR
Cardinals Bullpen Comes Up Big
Happ had one of his best starts as a Cardinal, pitching six or more innings for the first time since August 21. But it was the Cardinals' bullpen that got timely outs in big spots to hold the one-run lead.
Kodi Whitley came on in relief and threw two strikeouts. Whitley has not allowed a run in the entire month of September.
Whitley freezes Urías and Adames, gets back-to-back K's, both of the looking variety, to end the top half of the seventh.
Said it before and will say it again. He's becoming an underrated force in the bullpen. Lots to be encouraged about going forward into next season. https://t.co/KjsN034Ouv
T.J. McFarland came in with the tying run on base, but with one pitch he induced an inning-ending double play to stave off a rally.
Instead of turning to closer Alex Reyes, Cardinals manager Mike Schildt brought in Luis Garcia in the ninth with a runner on base. Garcia struck out both batters he faced to lock up the win.
The Cardinals will be the visitor in the NL Wild Card game and have named Adam Wainwright the starter to face either the L.A. Dodgers or San Francisco Giants. While Wainwright has had a great season with 17 wins and three complete games, St. Louis will likely have all hands on deck in a win-or-go-home situation.
The Cardinals should be encouraged by its relievers after Thursday's outing.
Brewers Waste Their Chances
The Brewers had their opportunities to break the game open but they fell short.
Their best chance came in the fourth inning. After back-to-back hits to open the frame, Omar Narvaez and Keston Hiura followed with consecutive RBI singles to take a 3-2 lead with nobody out. But a flyout and two strikeouts subsequently ended the inning, keeping the Cardinals in the game.
The Brewers had another chance in the fifth with two players on base with two outs, but Narvaez grounded out to end the inning. Hiura gave St. Louis a scare in the ninth, but Carlson made a big play at the wall.
Hiura just misses tying the game up in the ninth, with Carlson hauling in his drive at the wall in right-center.
In all, the Brewers went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.
The NL Central champs hope to ignite their offense by the postseason as they are set to face the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.
What's Next?
The Cardinals will stay home to begin their final regular-season series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Dakota Hudson will take the mound against Zach Davies. The Brewers will travel to face the Los Angeles Dodgers with Eric Lauer scheduled to start against Clayton Kershaw.
Cardinals Winning Streak Ends at 17 Games in Shutout Loss vs. Brewers
Sep 30, 2021
ST LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 29: Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals dives for a ground ball during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium on September 29, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
The streak is over.
For the first time since Sept. 10, the St. Louis Cardinals lost a game, falling 4-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. That ended a 17-game winning streak for the Cardinals (88-70) that clinched them a wild-card berth in this year's postseason.
Adrian Houser, Brent Suter, Brad Boxberger and Aaron Ashby combined to hold the Cardinals to just three hits and four walks while striking out nine.
Daniel Vogelbach and Manny Pina each homered for the Brewers (95-63), who already clinched the NL Central title earlier in the week.
The two teams will meet for the last time in the regular season on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. ET. If they meet again in the postseason, it won't come until the NLCS, with the Cardinals set to face either the San Francisco Giants (103-54) or Los Angeles Dodgers (101-56)—if the season ended today, it would be the Dodgers—in the Wild Card Round.
Whichever of those teams wins the NL West would be awaiting in the NLDS were the Cardinals to advance past the Wild Card Game. So St. Louis' path to a title will require them to get past the two best teams in baseball this year, at least in terms of record.
But no team in baseball has been hotter down the stretch than the Cardinals, who have won 19 of their past 21 contests.
And the good news has extended beyond the results on the diamond.
"I'm not opting out," superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado told reporters Wednesday regarding his contract, which includes an opt-out clause after this season that would have allowed him to become a free agent had he exercised it. "We can put that out there. I will not be opting out. I will be coming back. That was always the plan. I'm absolutely coming back. I feel like this year has been special in a lot of senses. I want to play with all these guys. I'm excited I'll be back."
The Cardinals may have lost on Wednesday, but it's hard to imagine anybody in St. Louis even caring at this point.
