Christine: Drew Gilbert just stole the show with a walk-off homer in extra innings, and now the Cardinals have to bounce back against the Nationals with a roster that looks like it’s been through a wringer.
Jason: That was brutal. Ten days ago we predicted a 4-2 win for St. Louis, and instead they got lit up in the tenth. The bullpen is tired, the infield is thin, and we are staring down a three-game set in Washington.
Christine: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, America's number one daily sports podcast! I'm Christine, joined by Jason. Today we are breaking down the Cardinals' upcoming series against the Washington Nationals, looking at who is healthy enough to play, how the rotation holds up, and whether they can salvage any ground in the NL Central standings.
Jason: Right. We’ve got three segments coming up. First, we’ll look at the pitching matchups and what the probables mean for this series. Then we’re diving into the injury report and which hitters might see increased usage. Finally, we’ll give you our keys to the series and a bold prediction for how this weekend ends.
Christine: Let’s get right into it. The Cardinals are sitting at 75-78, fourth in the NL Central. It’s not a playoff team yet, but every game matters when you’re trying to stay relevant. And tonight, they face the Nationals, who are 71-82 and fourth in the NL East.
Jason: So, let’s talk about the pitching. The Cardinals’ rotation has been stretched thin all season. With JT Brubaker on the 15-Day IL and Matt Gage on the 60-Day IL, they don’t have a lot of depth here. Who do you think starts the opener?
Christine: Well, looking at the roster, Cooper Hjerpe seems like the logical choice if he’s recovered from whatever sidelined him. He’s got that strikeout stuff that could keep the Nationals off balance. But honestly, Jason, I’m worried about the workload.
Jason: Exactly. That’s my concern too. If Hjerpe goes, he needs to go deep. You can’t burn him out early again. Andre Pallante is another option, but his last few outings have been shaky. Kyle Leahy is there as a spot starter, but he’s more of a long-man type.
Christine: And then there’s Quinn Mathews and Matthew Liberatore. Mathews has shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency is still an issue. Liberatore has been reliable in the past, but is he still effective? The Nationals aren’t exactly a high-powered offense, but they can exploit mistakes.
Jason: Right. The Nationals have been mediocre at best. They’re not hitting for power like the Giants did yesterday. Drew Gilbert’s homer was a fluke, or maybe just bad defense. If the Cardinals’ starters can limit the hard contact, they should be able to grind out some wins.
Christine: But here’s the thing, Jason. The bullpen. Ryne Stanek is back, which is huge. He’s their closer, or at least their setup man. But Justin Bruihl, Luis Gastelum, Gordon Graceffo, Brycen Mautz, Riley O'Brien, George Soriano, Cade Winquest... that’s a lot of arms to manage.
Jason: It is a lot. And if you lose two games in a row, like you did to San Francisco, those arms get taxed. You start seeing guys pitch on short rest. That’s when injuries happen. That’s when performance drops. It’s a vicious cycle.
Christine: So, for the first game, I’m thinking Hjerpe gets the nod. He’s fresh, he’s got stuff, and he can eat innings. If he goes six solid innings, the bullpen stays manageable. But if he goes four and a third, we’re in trouble.
Jason: Agreed. Hjerpe is the best bet for quality starts. If the Cardinals want to win this series, they need to get quality starts from their top three options. Anything less, and they’re relying entirely on the bullpen to bail them out. And we know how fragile that unit is.
Christine: Stick with us. We’re taking a quick break, but when we come back, we’re talking about the lineup. Who’s playing? Who’s hurt? And can Alec Burleson keep up his historic RBI pace despite the team’s struggles?
Jason: Welcome back. Let’s talk about the roster. We mentioned injuries earlier, but let’s get specific. Joshua Baez is day-to-day. Blaze Jordan and Everson Pereira are on the 10-Day IL. Hunter Dobbins is on the 15-Day IL. Max Rajcic and Matt Gage are on the 60-Day IL.
Christine: That’s a lot of bodies out. Victor Bericoto, Marcelo Mayer, Sam Hentges... also on the IL. JT Brubaker too. This isn’t just a few missing players; this is a significant chunk of the roster. How does that impact the daily decisions?
Jason: It impacts everything. Defense, offense, depth. JJ Wetherholt was just activated from the 10-Day IL, which is good news. He’s a rookie second baseman, so he brings energy and speed. But replacing veterans like Blaze Jordan takes time.
Christine: Right. And Joshua Baez being day-to-day means the outfield is fluid. Jose Fermin, Thomas Saggese, Bryan Torres... they’re all getting reps. Nathan Church and Victor Scott II in center field. Jordan Walker in right. It’s a committee approach.
Jason: The key is Masyn Winn. He’s your everyday shortstop, your leadoff threat. If he’s healthy, he creates problems. Leo Bernal and Pedro Pages behind the plate provide stability. Ivan Herrera as DH adds another bat. But the middle of the order? That’s where the question marks are.
Christine: Alec Burleson. We talked about him yesterday. He’s putting up historic RBI numbers. Even with the losses, he’s delivering. Can he carry the load against Washington? The Nationals’ pitching isn’t elite, but they’re dangerous in home games.
Jason: Burleson is the engine. Without him, this lineup is just average. With him, they’re dangerous. He knows how to drive in runs. He’s got that clutch gene. If the other guys around him can get on base—Winn, Pages, Herrera—Burleson will find ways to score.
Christine: But what about Nolan Gorman? He’s at third base. He’s got power, but he’s inconsistent. If he strikes out three times, that’s a lost inning. The Cardinals need consistent production from every position.
Jason: Gorman is volatile. Some nights he’s All-Star caliber, other nights he’s a liability. The coaching staff has to manage his minutes carefully. Maybe give him a rest against a lefty if possible. Platoon splits matter here.
Christine: So, the takeaway is: rely on Winn and Burleson, hope the bullpen stays healthy, and pray that the infielders can hold it together defensively. It’s a tall order.
Jason: Tall order, yes. But not impossible. The Nationals are struggling too. They’re 71-82. They’re not going to be perfect. If the Cardinals can just out-execute them by a little bit, they can win these games.
Christine: We’ll be right back. Next up, we’re giving you our keys to the series and a bold prediction. Will the Cardinals sweep? Or will they drop two? Stay tuned.
Jason: Alright, let’s get to the keys. Key number one: Pitching depth. If the starters can go five-plus innings each, the Cardinals control the tempo. If they go three, the bullpen collapses.
Christine: Key number two: Run support. The Cardinals’ offense has been sputtering. They need to put up runs early. Don’t wait until the eighth inning to make a move. Attack the Nationals’ starters immediately.
Jason: Key number three: Defense. With so many call-ups and replacements, errors will happen. Minimize them. Every error gives the Nationals an extra chance. In a close series, those chances add up.
Christine: Bold prediction time. I think the Cardinals split the series. They win one comfortably, maybe with Burleson having a big game, and lose one in a close contest, maybe due to bullpen fatigue.
Jason: I’m going bolder. I think the Cardinals take two of three. I think Cooper Hjerpe pitches a gem in the opener, and the bullpen holds firm in the second game. The Nationals are too inconsistent to beat them three times.
Christine: Interesting. So you’re betting on the rotation while I’m betting on the bullpen’s limitations. We’ll see who’s right after Sunday.
Jason: I am. Look, the Cardinals have talent. They just haven’t had the health. If they can get a clean stretch, even for three games, they can prove they’re better than their record suggests.
Christine: That’s it for today’s preview. The Cardinals host the Nationals starting tonight. It’s a chance to bounce back, but the odds are stacked against them with so many injuries. What do you think? Can they turn it around?
Jason: If you believe in this team, even when it’s tough, please consider supporting the show. A small tip via the link in the episode description helps keep these daily breakdowns free and available for your morning commute.
Christine: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Cardinal fan. Go Birds!