JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Jack Flaherty is getting the ball on opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals.St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said Saturday the 24-year-old Flaherty will start the season opener March 26 at Cincinnati. It will be the right-hander's first opening day start and comes after he finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting with a closing surge last season.“It's one of of those things you work for and you want it,” Flaherty said.The nod comes one season after Flaherty pitched the home opener for the Cardinals.“It's cool,” Flaherty said. “Just happy I get the ball first, get the first chance to go out and kind of set the tone for the season.”Shildt gave Flaherty the news on Friday, not a surprise after Flaherty went 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA last season. Seven of those wins came after the All-Star break, when he posted a 0.91 ERA. He also started three games in the postseason, allowing four earned runs in 13 innings.Flaherty started three games against the Reds last season, allowing... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The health of Carlos Martinez's shoulder is even more important for the St. Louis Cardinals now that Miles Mikolas will miss the first few weeks of the season because of an inflamed flexor tendon.Shoulder weakness last spring training following off-season surgery prompted the Cardinals to shift Martinez to the bullpen. He eventually replaced injured Jordan Hicks as closer, saving 24 games in 27 chances. “We're looking for consistency in how he's doing, how he's recovering,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “That a big thing for Carlos, making sure the strength is there.”An All-Star in 2015 and 2017, Martinez considers himself a starting pitcher.“I feel stronger,” said Martinez, who lost 15 pounds during the off-season. “The day after I throw I don't feel tired.”St. Louis has an opening for a starter in a rotation projected to include Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and Adam Wainwright.“This time last year he wasn't in as good a spot from a throwing standpoint and being... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in his ailing throwing arm, likely delaying his regular-season debut by about one month.A 2018 All-Star, Mikolas received a similar injection after last season to treat a flexor tendon issue.St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that the injection will keep Mikolas from throwing for three to four weeks. Once he is cleared to throw, Mikolas will have to restart his throwing program from the beginning.“It gives us a better chance to be able to get him off to a healthy start and get what he's dealing with behind him,” Shildt said.The Cardinals scratched Mikolas from his second scheduled bullpen session of the spring. An MRI done over the last few days showed the arm to be no better or worse than during a similar exam taken following the 2019 season.It's possible that Mikolas will remain in Jupiter when the Cardinals break camp in late March.“I think the plan is still evolving,... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas was scratched from his second bullpen session of the spring because of a flexor tendon issue.“Best-case scenario is probably just a couple more days before he starts playing catch, starts his bullpens again,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “I can't say that's going to happen one way or the other.”Mikolas said his arm felt “tender from time to time” last season, but he was able to manage it.“I do not know what the full clinical term is,” Mikolas said. “I can tell you my elbow is a little sore.”Shildt said the Cardinals hope to have a more concrete time frame for Mikolas return to the mound in a day or two.“Is he behind? Yeah, he's behind,” Shildt said. “He's not being able to get on the mound, but he's still doing some of the things mentally and physically that he can do.”Should Mikolas only need a couple of more days of rest, he expects a brief layoff wouldn't significantly hamper his preparation for the season.“I've already... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals avoided arbitration with right-hander John Gant on Friday by agreeing to a $1.3 million, one-year deal.The 27-year-old Gant was the only St. Louis player eligible for arbitration. He lost the fifth starter spot to Dakota Hudson last season but went 11-1 with a 3.66 ERA as a crucial part of the bullpen. He made $571,300.Gant made 19 starts in 2018 and went 7-6 with a 3.47 ERA. In four seasons with Atlanta and St. Louis, he is 19-12 with a 3.89 ERA in 117 appearances — 28 starts.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

From one corner of a sullen clubhouse came the glass half full view of the St. Louis Cardinals' season."People did not think we were going to be here," veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright said. "I think if you had asked Cardinals (fans) in spring training if we got to the NLCS, would they be happy? Most of them would probably say yes."On the opposite wall several locker stalls away came a harsher review."Everybody always counted us out," second baseman Kolten Wong said. "I guess now the haters, they can agree with us that we weren't the best team right now."They're both right. The Cardinals exceeded preseason expectations and came from 5� games back in June to win the NL Central and advance to the NL Championship Series. But 48 strikeouts and six runs in a four-game sweep at the hands of the World Series-bound Washington Nationals put a damper on a season of growth in St. Louis that players believe will set the foundation for more winning to come."Proud of this group," said Yadier Molina, the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Shildt took the ball from Dakota Hudson and patted him on the back of the neck.Hudson was out of the game after recording one out on 15 pitches against eight Washington Nationals batters, and the St. Louis Cardinals were on the receiving end of what they did to the Atlanta Braves in the last round. Tears welled up in the 25-year-old's eyes thinking back to that moment."He just was saying I had a good year and that I had an impact on the team getting here," an emotional Hudson said. "Just a little bit of nice words, I guess, to say as I was coming off."The Nationals put up seven runs in the first inning to beat the Cardinals 7-4 in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series on Tuesday and sweep them out of the playoffs in unceremonious fashion. St. Louis was outscored 20-6 and never led at any point."We proved — and this doesn't require advanced sabermetrics — you have to get a lead to win a game," Shildt said. "We weren't able to do that."Hours after the manager said his... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Shildt took the ball from Dakota Hudson and patted him on the back of the neck.Hudson was out of the game after recording one out on 15 pitches against eight Washington Nationals batters, and the St. Louis Cardinals were on the receiving end of what they did to the Atlanta Braves in the last round.The Nationals put up seven runs in the first inning to beat the Cardinals 7-4 in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series on Tuesday and sweep them out of the playoffs in unceremonious fashion. St. Louis was outscored 20-6 and never was ahead at any point."We proved — and this doesn't require advanced sabermetrics — you have to get a lead to win a game. So we weren't able to do that," Shildt said.Hours after the manager said his team "has always believed in itself" and will continue to do that, it was like the Cardinals forgot how to play baseball. Hudson didn't have his best stuff but was done in by a succession of baffling errors and defensive blunders from the Cardinals —... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:CAPITAL GAINSPatrick Corbin can pitch the Nationals to their first pennant when Washington goes for a four-game sweep of slumping St. Louis in the NL Championship Series. The $140 million lefty starts at home against Cardinals rookie Dakota Hudson.Washington hasn't put a baseball team in the World Series since 1933, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. The nation's capital owns one MLB championship; the Senators won all the way back in 1924. There wasn't even a baseball team at all in Washington for more than three decades until the Montreal Expos franchise moved to town before the 2005 season and was renamed the Nationals. Until this season, the Nats hadn't won a playoff series, going 0-4 since 2012.COLE COUNTRYWith the Astros and Yankees tied 1-all, the best-of-seven AL Championship Series shifts to New York for Game 3. Houston ace Gerrit Cole, who is 18-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 24 starts since his last loss on May... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:CAPITAL GAINSPatrick Corbin can pitch the Nationals to their first pennant when Washington goes for a four-game sweep of slumping St. Louis in the NL Championship Series. The $140 million lefty starts at home against Cardinals rookie Dakota Hudson.Washington hasn't put a baseball team in the World Series since 1933, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. The nation's capital owns one MLB championship; the Senators won all the way back in 1924. There wasn't even a baseball team at all in Washington for more than three decades until the Montreal Expos franchise moved to town before the 2005 season and was renamed the Nationals. Until this season, the Nats hadn't won a playoff series, going 0-4 since 2012.COLE COUNTRYWith the Astros and Yankees tied 1-all, the best-of-seven AL Championship Series shifts to New York for Game 3. Houston ace Gerrit Cole, who is 18-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 24 starts since his last loss on May... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt shook his head and blamed himself. The answers aren't coming easy right now.After a third consecutive anemic offensive showing led to an 8-1 blowout loss to the Washington Nationals in Game 3 Monday night, the St. Louis Cardinals are staring down a 3-0 deficit in the NL Championship Series and are one loss from being swept in the best-of-seven playoff.St. Louis scored one unearned run on seven hits and has a total of two runs on 11 hits through three games. It wasn't supposed to be like this, and now the Cardinals are on the brink of elimination going into Game 4 on Tuesday night."We haven't scored," said Goldschmidt, who struck out four times in Game 3. "We haven't executed as an offense. I haven't really done anything this series, and the results speak for themselves, especially tonight. Just have to do a better job."Time is running out to turn things around.Through the first two games of the series, pitching, defense and baserunning helped keep the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Instead of dwelling on the St. Louis Cardinals' troubles at the plate after two losses in the NL Championship Series, manager Mike Shildt tried to accentuate the positives."We've pitched really, really well," he said. "We've played really good defense. We've run the bases when we're getting the opportunities really well."Not anymore. And it might be too late to do anything about those silent bats.All those previously reliable elements abandoned the Cardinals in Game 3 on Monday night, and their hitting never showed up. After another anemic offensive showing, they got blown out 8-1 by the Washington Nationals to fall into a 3-0 hole and are one loss Tuesday from being swept out of the best-of-seven series.A comedy of errors in the field and on the basepaths and a rare off night for 23-year-old ace Jack Flaherty did little to relieve the pressure of a lineup still flummoxed by Nationals pitching. St. Louis scored one unearned run on a throwing error and has a grand total... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:WELCOME TO THE NLCSThe Washington Nationals play in the NL Championship Series for the first time, taking on St. Louis at Busch Stadium. An�bal S�nchez starts for the Nats against Miles Mikolas.Both teams won a deciding Game 5 on the road in the NL Division Series. The Cardinals scored 10 runs in the first inning and romped past Atlanta 13-1 while Washington rallied late and beat the Dodgers 7-3 in 10 innings.Nationals aces Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin all got plenty of work in the NLDS. S�nchez was 11-8 with a 3.85 ERA this season, then gave up one run in five innings in his lone appearance against Los Angeles.Washington manager Dave Martinez says he hasn't decided how he will line up the rest of his starting staff after S�nchez. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Adam Wainwright will start Game 2, followed by Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson, who will be available out of the bullpen at the beginning of the series.MAMMOTH... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:WELCOME TO THE NLCSThe Washington Nationals play in the NL Championship Series for the first time, taking on St. Louis at Busch Stadium. An�bal S�nchez starts for the Nats against Miles Mikolas.Both teams won a deciding Game 5 on the road in the NL Division Series. The Cardinals scored 10 runs in the first inning and romped past Atlanta 13-1 while Washington rallied late and beat the Dodgers 7-3 in 10 innings.Nationals aces Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin all got plenty of work in the NLDS. S�nchez was 11-8 with a 3.85 ERA this season, then gave up one run in five innings in his lone appearance against Los Angeles.Washington manager Dave Martinez says he hasn't decided how he will line up the rest of his starting staff after S�nchez. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Adam Wainwright will start Game 2, followed by Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson, who will be available out of the bullpen at the beginning of the series.MAMMOTH... [More]

A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at St. Louis, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, at St. Louis, 4:08 p.m.; Game 3, Monday, at Washington, TBA; Game 4, Tuesday, at Washington, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, at Washington, TBA; x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 18, at St. Louis, TBA; x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 19, at St. Louis, TBA. (All games on TBS).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Cardinals won 5-2.___Projected Lineups:Nationals: SS Trea Turner (.298, 19 HRs, 57 RBIs, 37 2Bs, 35 SBs, 96 runs), RF Adam Eaton (.279, 15, 49, 15 SBs, 103 runs), 3B Anthony Rendon (.319, 34, 126, 44 2Bs, 117 runs, 1.010 OPS), LF Juan Soto (.282, 34, 110, 110 runs, .949 OPS), 2B Howie Kendrick (.344, 17, 62), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.257, 6, 27 in 52 games), C Kurt Suzuki (.264, 17, 63) or Yan Gomes (.223, 12, 43 in 97 games), CF Victor Robles (.255, 17, 65, 28 SBs) or Michael A. Taylor (.250, 1, 3 in 53 games).Cardinals:... [More]

A curse-filled clubhouse victory speech by St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt that went viral after a player posted it on social media showed a different side to the usually mild-mannered skipper — and while he was sorry Thursday that his colorful language got leaked, he did not feel bad about the gist of his message."It's regretful that that was able to get out," Shildt said, speaking to reporters a day before the NL Central champion Cardinals host the wild-card Washington Nationals for Game 1 of the best-of-seven NL Championship Series. "I will not apologize for having passion about how I feel about our team and the accomplishments of our team."Shildt called the clubhouse "a sanctuary that is very sacred" and said the pep talk to his players after they beat the Atlanta Braves 13-1 on Wednesday to win their NL Division Series "should have been private."But the bleepable rant — "That's how we roll" was just about the lone phrase suitable for publication — was shown to the world by... [More]

Cardinals first. Dexter Fowler grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Kolten Wong strikes out swinging. Paul Goldschmidt homers to left field. Marcell Ozuna homers to left field. Yadier Molina grounds out to shortstop, Dansby Swanson to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cardinals 2, Braves 0.Braves third. Dansby Swanson singles to center field. Dallas Keuchel strikes out on a foul bunt. Ronald Acuna Jr. singles to right field. Dansby Swanson to third. Ozzie Albies out on a sacrifice fly to right field to Tommy Edman. Dansby Swanson scores. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cardinals 2, Braves 1.Cardinals fourth. Marcell Ozuna homers to left field. Yadier Molina grounds out to shortstop, Dansby Swanson to Freddie Freeman. Matt Carpenter walks. Tommy Edman walks. Matt Carpenter to second. Paul DeJong called out on strikes. Dakota Hudson strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cardinals 3, Braves... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Atlanta Braves left-hander Dallas Keuchel will start Game 4 of the NL Division Series on short rest.The 31-year-old Keuchel started the series opener on Thursday, allowing one run in 4 2/3 innings in Atlanta's 7-6 loss to St. Louis. He threw 42 of his 74 pitches for strikes.The Braves waited until Monday to announce their Game 4 starter. Manager Brian Snitker said they told the Cardinals it was Keuchel on Sunday night.The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts this season after signing a one-year deal on June 7."I know it's a day short, but he didn't have an extended, just a grueling outing in his first one either," Snitker said. "So that's why we feel really good about him going out there today."Atlanta is one win away from advancing to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2001.Dakota Hudson will start for the Cardinals on Monday. The rookie right-hander is making his postseason debut after going 16-7 with a 3.35 ERA this season.Each team stayed with the same starting lineup it used during Atlanta's 3-1 victory Sunday, except for the starting pitchers.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Atlanta Braves left-hander Dallas Keuchel will start Game 4 of the NL Division Series on short rest.The 31-year-old Keuchel started the series opener on Thursday, allowing one run in 4 2/3 innings in Atlanta's 7-6 loss to St. Louis. He threw 42 of his 74 pitches for strikes.The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts this season after signing a one-year deal on June 7.Atlanta is one win away from advancing to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2001.Dakota Hudson will start for the Cardinals on Monday. The rookie right-hander is making his postseason debut after going 16-7 with a 3.35 ERA this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports