3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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Carpenter’s career hasn’t been marked by much defensive stability, though this year sets up to be the exception. After starting a combined 146 games at third base from 2016-18, Carpenter anticipates drawing at least that many this season alone. With Paul Goldschmidt at first and Kolten Wong back at second, opportunities for Carpenter on the right side of the diamond should be limited.

Carpenter has never completely shaken questions about his defensive abilities at third, though the metrics were kind to him last season. His plus-6 Defensive Runs Saved would have ranked fourth-best among National League third basemen had he accumulated enough innings to qualify. If anything, perhaps having some permanency of position will also help.

“I want to prove to myself and everybody else that I can be a great third baseman,” Carpenter said. “My mentality is to go out and not only be one of the best in our own division, but also in the game.”

How the transition back to third goes for Carpenter will help define the ceiling of the Cardinals’ entire infield defense. There may not be a more defensively adept right-side of the infield than the one the Cardinals boast in Goldschmidt and Wong. And at short, Paul DeJong profiled as an above-average defender in his sophomore season in '18.

Carpenter compared the potential to the infield unit he was a part of in '13 when the Cardinals set a franchise record for fielding percentage (.988). Carpenter handled second base that season, with Allen Craig, David Freese and Pete Kozma settling in as starters around him.

It’s back to the drawing board for Brett Cecil, who appears to be pitching his way off the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster each time he takes the mound.

Cecil’s appearance in a squad game on Thursday was hardly encouraging, and manager Mike Shildt confirmed on Friday that Cecil is not scheduled to appear in any upcoming Grapefruit League games. Instead, the lefty, who found his mechanics to be out of whack following significant offseason weight loss, will continue to get work on the back fields and in bullpen sessions.


“He’s still a work in progress,” Shildt acknowledged.

Cecil may also be nearing a crossroads. The Cardinals’ bullpen is filling up fast, especially with Alex Reyes’ late push for one of the seven spots. Cecil is still due $14.5 million over the next two years, but after two subpar seasons and a disappointing spring, the Cardinals are running out of patience.

Asked on Friday if Cecil still had a chance to pitch his way onto the Opening Day roster, Shildt hedged.

“He’s an option,” Shildt said. “But right now he’s getting his work on the backfields, and we are mindful of the fact that the season is getting closer.”

If they choose to fill their bullpen spots with other relievers, the Cards will have a corresponding decision to make. Cecil could open the year on the injured list, if there is actually an injury to cite. Or, since Cecil is unlikely to accept a Minor League assignment, the club could consider releasing the veteran.

Cecil, when asked for an update on his program on Friday, declined comment.
Adam Wainwright, so efficient through 5 1/3 innings that he had to throw extra pitches afterward to get enough work in, highlighted the Cardinals' pitching performance in Friday’s 11-2 split-squad loss to the Astros. Despite allowing a homer on what he described as the “worst breaking ball of my life,” the veteran also induced swing-and-misses on four different pitches, including the split-finger fastball that he has been experimenting with this spring.

The outing was likely Wainwright’s last of the Grapefruit League season, too, as the Cardinals have scripted his next to come on the back fields and his last to be in Memphis for the March 25 exhibition game against the club's Triple-A affiliate.

Behind Wainwright on Friday, however, things didn’t go so smoothly. Andrew Miller issued three walks (including one with the bases loaded) and allowed one hit without retiring a batter. Ryan Meisinger served up a grand slam. Jordan Hicks walked another two batters, and Alex Reyes was knocked for three runs in his second inning of relief.
Catcher Francisco Peña is expected to start on Saturday for the first time since tweaking his oblique muscle in a March 5 loss to the Phillies. Pena remains in the mix to win a Major League roster spot as Yadier Molina’s backup, though the missed time has given Matt Wieters an opportunity to strengthen his case for the job.

Infielder Jedd Gyorko is due back in the lineup on Monday, Shildt said. Though Gyorko hasn’t played since March 3, the Cardinals remain optimistic that he’ll accrue enough at-bats to feel ready for the start of the regular season.
The Cardinals’ fifth-starter competition will be front and center this weekend as Austin Gomber (Saturday) and John Gant (Sunday) make starts against the Nationals and Marlins, respectively. This will likely be the last look the Cards will get at both candidates before officially whittling down what has been a four-man race.

With Gomber and Gant pitching in the stadium, Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty will make their next starts on the back fields. The Cardinals had planned all along to get members of their Opening Day rotation work in a more controlled setting outside of Grapefruit League play.
The Cardinals fell to 1-6-1 in their past eight games and have been outscored 46-11 during that span.

The Cardinals return to the Fitteam Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Saturday, this time to face the Nationals in a 12:05 p.m. CT game. The pitching matchup will feature Gomber and St. Louis native Max Scherzer, who allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Cardinals on Monday. Jose Martinez, who did not appear in either split-squad game on Friday, is expected back in the Cardinals’ lineup.

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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Last edited by CardsofSTL on March 16 19, 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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Nats lineup

Trea Turner SS
Adam Eaton RF
Anthony Rendon 3B
Juan Soto LF
Ryan Zimmerman 1B
Brian Dozier 2B
Yan Gomes C
Wilmer Difo CF
Max Scherzer SP

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CardsofSTL
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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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This is probably going to be a bloodbath

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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CardsofSTL wrote:This is probably going to be a bloodbath
Yeah, I'm not sure why Gomber is even getting a look anymore. He's all but cemented as a Memphis starter. Although, with Cecil likely being released, he could find a spot in the pen..

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

Post by InvincibleCakeEater »

Lineup change- Nolan Gorman is getting the start. Good luck kid.

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Re: 3/16 ST GDT: Cardinals(Gomber)@Nationals(Scherzer)12PMCT

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InvincibleCakeEater wrote:Lineup change- Nolan Gorman is getting the start. Good luck kid.
Updated lineup above.

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