Latest news with #WillsonContreras
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cardinals Labeled ‘Pleasant Surprise of 2025' by MLB Writer
Cardinals Labeled 'Pleasant Surprise of 2025' by MLB Writer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a season full of unexpected twists, Bleacher Report may have found the perfect way to describe the St. Louis Cardinals: 'The pleasant surprise of the 2025 campaign.' Advertisement That was the title given to the Cards in BR's '1 Sentence to Describe Every MLB Team Entering June' article posted on Sunday. And while some teams were labeled 'Underachieving' or 'The biggest disappointment in baseball,' St. Louis got something much sweeter — and very accurate. Coming into the season with +12000 World Series odds and as a consensus pick to finish below .500, the Cardinals continue to prove everyone wrong. St. Louis entered June at 33-25, just behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and firmly in the playoff hunt. Since May 2, the Cardinals have gone 19-7. A surprising factor that makes the success even more unwarranted, is that the Redbirds have won despite major struggles from key names on their roster. Sonny Gray has been just OK; Willson Contreras is having the worst offensive season of his career and Jordan Walker still hasn't been able to put all the pieces together. Advertisement Despite the struggles, the roster is loaded with unexpected contributors that have been carrying the weight of the Cardinals during the run. While players like Lars Nootbar and Nolan Arenado are getting the job done, Masyn Winn and Brendan Donavan have been electric up the middle. Matthew Liberatore and Miles Mikolas have been playing better than expected on the mound, which was expected to be a key weak spot for St. Louis. Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) and third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) and shortstop Masyn Winn (0) and first baseman Willson Contreras (40) check the replay© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images 'They might mess around and win this division if any of those three players turn things around,' the BR article said. There's no telling how long the Cardinals can keep this going. But in a season that started with low expectations and offseason talk of shedding payroll, the fact that St. Louis is in this position at all is a win in itself. Advertisement Bleacher Report's label doesn't just reflect where the Cardinals stand. It captures how they've made their fans feel again. Pleasantly surprised. Related: Cardinals Farm Report: Pitchers Have Big Week Amid Roster Moves This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Sonny Gray improves to 6-1 as Cardinals shut out Rangers
May 31 - Willson Contreras drove in a run and scored one to back the solid pitching of Sonny Gray and two relievers as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas. The Cardinals managed just five hits, but that total was enough to beat Texas, which posted four hits but had only one runner reach third base. St. Louis evened the series after getting shellacked 11-1 on Friday. The Rangers were shut out for the eighth time this season one day after producing their second-highest run total of 2025. Gray (6-1) went seven scoreless innings for St. Louis, scattering four hits and walking one while tying a season high with 10 strikeouts. Phil Maton relieved and worked around a walk in the eighth before Ryan Helsley retired the heart of the Rangers' order in the ninth and struck out two to record his 13th save of the campaign. Gray has won his past three decisions in a stretch of five starts without a loss. Masyn Wynn had two hits -- one of them a double -- to lead the Cardinals' offense. Patrick Corbin (3-4) started and went 5 1/3 innings for the Rangers, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Corbin has surrendered three runs or less in all 10 of his starts this season but has just one win in his past seven appearances. The Cardinals manufactured the game's first run in the second inning, with Contreras walking, going to second on a wild pitch by Corbin, moving to third on a groundout, and trotting home on a sacrifice fly to deep center field from Nolan Arenado. In the fourth, Contreras doubled home Winn to make it 2-0 after Winn opened the frame with a double into the left field corner. Texas threatened in the fifth as Jake Burger singled and Marcus Semien singled, the latter with two outs. But Gray worked out of the jam by coaxing Kyle Higashioka to fly out. The Rangers had baserunners in the seventh and eighth innings but could not score. --Field Level Media
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Sonny Gray strikes out 10 in the Cardinals' 2-0 victory over the the Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas - Sonny Gray struck out 10 while allowing only four singles over seven innings and Willson Contreras had a part in both St. Louis runs as the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Saturday. Gray's 19th game with double-digit strikeouts made the 35-year-old right-hander in his 13th big league season the 10th active pitcher with 1,800 career strikeouts. Gray (6-1) threw 64 of 91 pitches for strikes and had only one walk. Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances to wrap up the Cardinals' seventh shutout of the season. Phil Maton pitched the eighth. The Cardinals stayed by manufacturing a run without a hit after the second inning started with a home run. Contreras led off with a towering flyball near the left-field pole that prompted a crew chief review to determine it was foul as initially called. He then walked, advanced on a wild pitch by Patrick Corbin (3-4), got to third on a groundout, and scored on Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly. Maysn Winn led off the Cardinals' fourth with a double and went home on a ground-rule double by Contreras, a ball that hit just fair down the left-field line and bounced into the seats. Corbin allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. Texas, after an 11-1 win Friday night, was shut out for the eighth time. Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan's nifty play in the ninth inning to throw out speedy No. 3 hitter Wyatt Langford for the second out, around two strikeouts by Helsley. The Cardinals finished with a 19-8 record in May, their best record in that month since 20-7 in 2013, their last World Series season. Jacob deGrom (4-2, 2.42 ERA), who has allowed two runs over fewer in each of his last eight starts, pitches the series finale for Texas on Sunday. Eric Fedde (3-4) goes for the Cardinals. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Sonny Gray strikes out 10 in the Cardinals' 2-0 victory over the the Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Sonny Gray struck out 10 while allowing only four singles over seven innings and Willson Contreras had a part in both St. Louis runs as the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Saturday. Gray's 19th game with double-digit strikeouts made the 35-year-old right-hander in his 13th big league season the 10th active pitcher with 1,800 career strikeouts. Gray (6-1) threw 64 of 91 pitches for strikes and had only one walk. Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances to wrap up the Cardinals' seventh shutout of the season. Phil Maton pitched the eighth. The Cardinals went ahead to stay by manufacturing a run without a hit after the second inning nearly started with a home run. Contreras led off with a towering flyball near the left-field pole that prompted a crew chief review to determine it was foul as initially called. He then walked, advanced on a wild pitch by Patrick Corbin (3-4), got to third on a groundout and scored on Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly. Maysn Winn led of the Cardinals fourth with a double and went home on a ground-rule double by Contreras, a ball that hit just fair down the left-field line and bounced into the seats. Corbin allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. Texas, after an 11-1 win Friday night, was shut out for the eighth time. Key moment Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan's nifty play in the ninth inning to throw out speedy No. 3 hitter Wyatt Langford for the second out around two strikeouts by Helsley. Key stat The Cardinals finished with a 19-8 record in May, their best record in that month since 20-7 in 2013, their last World Series season. Up next Jacob deGrom (4-2, 2.42 ERA), who has allowed two runs over fewer in each of his last eight starts, pitches the series finale for Texas on Sunday. Eric Fedde (3-4) goes for the Cardinals. ___ AP MLB:
Fox Sports
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Contreras sidelined for Cardinals' game against Diamondbacks due to back spasms
Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras will miss Friday night's game against Arizona due to back spasms. The 33-year-old Contreras was scratched shortly before the start of the opening game of a three-game set against the Diamondbacks in a precautionary move, the Cardinals said. Alex Burleson replaced Contreras at first base. The lineup changes involved Brendan Donovan moving from second base to left field. Nolan Gorman was inserted into the lineup playing second base. Lars Nootbaar moved from left to right field. Contreras is considered day to day. He has appeared in a team-leading 49 of the team's 50 games this season. Contreras is hitting .250 with six homers and 28 RBI. ___ AP MLB: recommended
