ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
COASTAL CARDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue their season-long 11-day, 10-game road trip along the Pacific coast through Seattle (1-2), San Francisco (April 24-27), and Los Angeles Dodgers (April 28-30) with the opener of a four-game series tonight at San Francisco’s Oracle Park … Since the Padres joined MLB as an expansion team in 1969, this marks just the 13th road trip in the Cardinals history to feature 10+ games across three cities on the Pacific coast, but first involving an AL team.
FLIGHT PATTERNS: St. Louis enters today in 4th place in the NL Central, 6.5 games behind first place Milwaukee … The 1985 National League Champion Cardinals began their season with an 10-12 record before finishing with an MLB-best 101-61 record, while the 2004 National League Champion Cardinals were 11-11 through 22 games and ended their season by leading MLB in wins (105-57).
WILD WILD WEST: Tonight is the 7th of 16 straight games against opponents from the NL and AL West Divisions (St. Louis is 67-56 combined vs. both West Divisions since 2019).
THE CITY BY THE BAY: St. Louis leads the all-time series between the Cardinals and Giants (358-355) since the franchise moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958.
A SAN FRANCISCO TREAT: A win tonight would give the Cardinals a .500 record (35-35) at Oracle Park for the 8th time since the ballpark opened in 2000 (1-1; 28-28; 29-29; 30-30; 32-32, 33-33, 34-34), and joining the Pirates (37-34, .521) and Dodgers (105-103, .505) as the only three teams with a .500 or better record who have played 15 or more games … The only time the Cardinals ever sported a winning record here was after their 3-2 win on May 6, 2022 to move to a 34-33 record.
CORNERSTONES: Paul Goldschmidt’s 13 career homers at Oracle Park are the most by any opposing player in stadium history (2000-present), while
Nolan Arenado (12) IS 2nd … Goldschmidt and Arenado are also among the top two active leaders vs. San Francisco in many offensive categories.
DO I FEEL LUCKY?: St. Louis is the lone MLB team to be winless (0-7) in series openers … The franchise record of consecutive series-opening losses to open a season is eight, snapped on the 9th series in 1988 with a 5-1 win at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.
GO-AHEAD GORMAN: Nolan Gorman ranks among NL leaders in homers (6, T-6th), RBI (22, 2nd), slugging (.657, 5th), OPS (1.054, 5th), isolated power (.343, 7th), AB/HR (11.17, 6th), AB/RBI (3.05, 1st), and 2-out RBI (14, 1st) … Gorman has four home runs as a second baseman, tying a Cards single-season March/April record w/ Kolten Wong (2019), Jedd Gyorko (2016), & Rogers Hornsby (1922 & 1924).
BULLITT: Lars Nootbaar yesterday became the 6th Cardinal to hit a first-pitch leadoff home run on the road since 2000, joining Dexter Fowler (Sept. 12, 2019 at Colorado and April 3, 2018 at Milwaukee), Matt Carpenter (June 21, 2018 at Milwaukee), Skip Schumaker (June 25, 2008 at Detroit), and Plácido Polanco (April 13, 2000 at Colorado) … Nootbaar has reached base safely in 18 of 34 plate appearances this season (five singles, two homers, 11 walks).
HITCHIN’ A RIDE: With the introduction of MLB’s new balanced schedule this season, the Cardinals are scheduled to travel 8,752 more miles (including trip to London) than they did in 2022, 2nd-biggest increase in miles behind San Francisco (+11,094) – Baseball Savant.
THE MEMORY REMAINS: Jordan Walker has recorded his first 20 career hits off 20 different pitchers, matching Andrew Knizner, who also recorded his first 20 hits off of 20 different pitchers from 2019-21 … The last Cardinal to reach 21 was José Rondon, doing so during his only season in St. Louis in 2021 … The highest for any MLB player to debut in the expansion era (since 1961) is 38 established by Peter O’Brien, who’s first 38 hits with Arizona and Miami from 2015-19 came against 38 different pitchers. – Elias
SEEK & DESTROY: Entering today, the Cardinals (251) rank 3rd in MLB in hard-hit balls (95+ mph) behind Pittsburgh (265) and Tampa Bay (268), and tied with the Rays for 2nd in average exit velocity (90.4) behind the Braves (90.6).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (2-2, 4.84)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Leaders: Wins (2, T-7th), Hits (25, T-10th), Run Support Avg (6.85, 7th), Walks/9 IP (2.01, 9th), HR/9 IP (0.40, 4th).
• Is set to make his 5th start of the season and his 113th career (16th as a member of the Cardinals). Facing San Francisco for the first time in his career, one of three MLB teams he’s yet to pitch against (STL, SD).
• Is 8-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 15 starts as a member of the Cardinals and St. Louis has won 10 of his 15 starts.
• Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 80 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22).
• Is the only Cardinals pitcher who has not induced a double play this season with the remaining four in the rotation all ranking in the Top 6 of the National League leaders.
• Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (50 total batters faced). In the only pitcher in MLB who has faced 50+ left-handed batters without a walk to a LHB since 8/1/22.
• Made his fourth Opening Day Roster and first with the Cardinals, adding to 2018, 2021 and 2022 with the Yankees. Was on the Injured List in 2019 and Taxi Squad in 2020.
• Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 79% (88-of-112) of his career starts.
LAST TIME OUT
• Was hit for seven runs on 10 hits, tying his career-highs in both as the Cardinals lost 8-7 in a game they rallied from down 7-2 in the 4th inning. Carried a 2-1 lead into the 4th inning when Arizona plated six runs with the big blow coming on a three-run home run by Gabriel Moreno capping off six straight batters reaching safely.
2023
• Established a new career-high with a 15.0 inning scoreless streak from 4/2-13, surpassing his previous high of 14.2 IP.
• Won his opening start of the season behind a 9-4 offensive effort vs. TOR (4/2) in a series clinching win.
• Threw 7.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball at MIL (4/8). Was the longest outing by a Cardinals pitcher this season and his 2nd consecutive scoreless outing against an N.L. Central opponent on the road (16.0 IP streak).
• Tied his career-highs in both hits (10) and runs (7) as the Cardinals lost vs. ARI (4/18) 8-7 in a game they rallied from down 7-2 in the 4th inning.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Giants won back-to-back games for the first time this season with their 5-4 victory on Sunday to earn the series split against the Mets…they’ll continue their season-long homestand with four games against the Cardinals, which ends on Thursday before they head to Mexico City to face San Diego on Saturday and Sunday.
ROSTER MOVES: Prior to today’s game, OF Mitch Haniger (#17) and OF Austin Slater (#13) returned from their rehabilitation assignment and were reinstated from the 10- day Injured List…IF/OF Darin Ruf was placed on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation and IF/OF Brett Wisely was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
LEFT THE STRUGGLES BEHIND?: The Giants, who had struggled against lefties all season, had a breakout performance against New York-NL LHP David Peterson on Saturday…despite striking out eight times in 5.0 innings, SF tagged Peterson for seven runs on seven hits and two homers…even with the bump up in numbers from Saturday, the Giants still have the 28th-ranked OPS (.608) in the Majors vs. left-handers, compared to their fifth-ranked .797 OPS against righties.
Giants vs. Left/vs. Right Hitting Rankings in MLB
vs. Right-Handed Pitchers Stats Number Rank
AVG .248 10th
HR 26 4th
RBI 71 T-16th
OPS .797 5th
vs. Left-Handed Pitchers
Stat Total MLB Rank
AVG .215 24th
HR 7 T-13th
RBI 23 T-17th
OPS .608 28th
BEND DON’T BREAK: Today’s starter, RHP Alex Cobb, has been able to escape some jams this season…opponents are hitting .347 with no runners on, yet .182 with runners in scoring position (Stats, LLC)…Cobb has faced St. Louis twice in his career, last with San Francisco in 2022…he struck out eight while allowing two runs on three hits (one being a home run to former Cardinals OF Harrison Bader) over 5.0 innings in the Giants’ 3-2 loss on May 6 of last year.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT: The Giants and Cardinals are receiving quality production from opposite ends of their pitching staffs… St. Louis relievers have a 3.32 ERA compared to the 5.57 ERA by their rotation (SIS)…the SF bullpen has a 5.29 ERA, while their starters have a 3.76 ERA.
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM: SF hitters have excelled when given a third shot at a starting pitcher this season…when facing a pitcher for a third time in a game, the Giants have seven home runs (tied for second in MLB) a .953 OPS (fifth), and a .590 slugging percentage, which is third.
Highest Slugging Pct. vs Pitcher third time through lineup – 2023
Team SLG
Tampa Bay Rays .679
New York Mets .655
San Francisco Giants .590
Team SLG
Miami Marlins .585
Los Angeles Angels .583
Philadelphia Phillies .538
THE NIGHTMAN COMETH: Although technically being played on Sunday Night Baseball, yesterday’s victory was considered a day game with the 4:10 p.m. (PT) start…SF is 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA and a .772 OPS in day games…in night games however, the Giants have a 1-7 record with a 5.53 ERA and a .657 OPS.
HOME RUN HAPPY: Although no longer the most home run reliant team in the Majors, SIS notes that the Giants are still in second with 57.9% of their runs coming via the big fly (the Dodgers are first with 58.7%).
LATE RUNS: SF has allowed 46 runs in the 7th inning or later, the third-most runs allowed in the Majors behind the Athletics (52) and the White Sox (47). Runs allowed in the 7th inning or later – MLB Team Runs in 7th Inning or later
Athletics 52
White Sox 47
Giants 46
Team Runs in 7th Inning or later
Royals 38
Padres 38
Two tied with 35
EARLY STRUGGLES: Both the Giants and Cardinals have struggled in the early going this season with the Cardinals leading the National League with the largest decrease in winning percentage from 2022-2023 (-.165)…the Giants rank fourth in the National League with a -.119 decrease in winning percentage.
NL, Largest Decrease in Win Pct – 2022 -> 2023
Team Win % Decrease
Cardinals -.165
Dodgers -.163
Rockies -.159
Team Win % Decrease
Giants -.119
Reds -.065
ANOTHER SPLASH, BRO: Upon further review, IF Brandon Crawford’s home run on Saturday was ruled a splash hit, making it the 99th by a Giant, and the fourth of Crawford’s career.
GROUNDERS: Per SIS, the Giants and Cardinals are the two best ground-ball pitching staffs in the NL, with the Giants’ 49.1% ground ball rate leading the Majors.
Ground Ball Rate Leaders – MLB
Team Ground ball rate
Giants 49.1%
Rays 47.2%
Cardinals 46.9%
Team Ground ball rate
Mariners 45.4%
Padres 45.4%
Rockies 44.9%
HOT CORNERS: The Giants are one of two teams where their first and third basemen have an OPS inside MLB’s top-7, the Blue Jays being the other (SIS)…SF third basemen have a .934 OPS, which is fourth-best, while first basemen have an .865 OPS, which is seventh.
TODAY’S STARTER – ALEX COBB RHP #38
2023 RECORD: 0-1, 2.79 ERA
WITH THE GIANTS: Is in his 12th Major League season and his second with the Giants…he’s in his second year of a two-year contract (with a third-year team option) with the Giants that he signed on November 30, 2021.
LAST OUTING: Pitched well but did not factor into the decision in his last start on April 19 at Miami…allowed one run on seven hits with a season-high eight strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work in the Giants’ 5-2 victory over Miami…his eight strikeouts were the most he’s had in a game since August 3, 2022 vs. LAD (also eight).
WALK THIS WAY: Cobb has walked just three hitters through his first four starts of the season (19.1ip)…his 3.5% walk rate (three walks/86 batters faced) is the third lowest walk rate in the National League…in fact, Giants starters have the three lowest walk rates in the National League: Anthony DeSclafani (2.2%), Logan Webb (3.3%) and Alex Cobb (min. 80 batters faced).
VS. ST LOUIS: Has faced the Cardinals twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2er, 12.0ip), 0.75 WHIP and 18 strikeouts…he most recently faced them on May 6, 2022 at Oracle Park and threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts in the Giants 2-3 loss to St. Louis…Cobb has a .190 opponents average against and is averaging 13.50 strikeouts per 9.0 innings over his two starts against the Cardinals.
HOME COOKING: Cobb has pitched very well on the Shores on McCovey Cove dating back to last season…over his last 13 outings here, he’s posted a 2.13 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and a .234 opponents average…however, the Giants are just 5-8 in those games, as he’s received zero or one run of support in eight of those 13 contests.
LACK OF SUPPORT: Dating back to May of last season, Cobb has received two-or-less runs of support in 19 of his last 26 outings.
RISP MANAGEMENT: Opponents are hitting .347 (17-for-49) off him with three extra-base hits with no one on base…however, he’s holding opponents to a .182 average (4-for-22) with runners in scoring position…last season, he allowed a .295 average with RISP.
