DENVER — Hoping to open up the post-All-Star Recreation schedule with a flourish, the St. Louis Cardinals put up a dud.
A 6-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday afternoon at Coors Subject completed off a 1-5 Cardinals highway journey by Arizona and Colorado. A sweep by the hands of the Diamondbacks within the desert had the Cardinals reeling, and shedding two of three to the Rockies, now 26-76 on the season, carried some additional sting.
Wednesday’s loss additionally put the Cardinals on the mistaken finish of historical past because it marked the primary time in 220 video games that Colorado had recorded a shutout, snapping a modern-day MLB file. The final time Rockies pitchers had held opponents scoreless was an 8-0 highway win over the San Diego Padres on Might 15, 2024.
St. Louis is now 52-51 forward of two pivotal residence sequence earlier than the July 31 MLB commerce deadline, a four-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres and a three-game set towards the Miami Marlins.
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters on Monday that, “Clearly, the place we’re within the standings positively impacts our decision-making transferring ahead within the buying and selling deadline.” These standings now present the Cardinals 3.5 video games out of the ultimate NL wild-card spot as they depart Denver and head residence.
Whereas it is definitely not out of the image that the Cardinals may nonetheless make the postseason, the main focus for the franchise on the commerce deadline has probably modified.
With the Cardinals designating starting pitcher Erick Fedde for assignment earlier than Wednesday’s sport, St. Louis mentioned goodbye to one of many pitchers who was whispered to be a possible commerce chip over the previous couple of weeks.
Fedde’s inventory had plummeted, nevertheless, throughout that point, together with after a horrific outing towards Colorado on Tuesday the place he gave up six earned runs and 7 hits (together with two homers) over 3.0 innings of labor.
St. Louis nonetheless has potential commerce chips nevertheless, together with third baseman Nolan Arenado. Mozeliak said earlier in the week he would focus on any potential trades with Arenado, who has a no-trade clause in his contract.
These chips may additionally embrace nearer Ryan Helsley, who has 19 saves on the season and has been deployed only one time for the reason that All-Star break.
The struggles for St. Louis on the western swing have dropped the Cardinals to 5-12 in July. It is a unhealthy time for St. Louis to go chilly, however may carry a promoting perspective into focus for Mozeliak.
With the Cardinals needing to indicate the entrance workplace they may very well be a postseason contender, St. Louis was listless on Wednesday, with supervisor Oliver Marmol telling reporters after the loss, “Worst sport we have performed all yr.”
If there was any wavering on which route St. Louis ought to go on the commerce deadline, Wednesday was probably the push wanted to promote and sit up for 2026 and past.
