Cardinals Fall Below .500 for First Time in 2026 The St. Louis Cardinals dropped below a .500 record for the first time in 2026 after a 10-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. The defeat marked their fifth loss in six games at home and pushed their overall record to 53-54. The team’s struggles came after a strong start to the season, during which they built a favorable standing in the National League Central. However, a recent stretch of poor performance has raised concerns about their ability to maintain their early-season success. The Cardinals’ decline has been particularly evident in their recent games, with the team failing to capitalize on opportunities and struggling to contain opponents. Michael McGreevy, one of the team’s most consistent players, became a focal point of the losing streak after allowing seven runs while recording only five outs in a single game. His performance highlighted the team’s inability to sustain the level of play that had defined their early-season success. Manager Oliver Marmol acknowledged the challenges the team faces but emphasized the importance of learning from the losses. “Although frustrating, I love where our staff’s minds are at,” Marmol said. “Previous years, there would have been a high, high level of frustration with this stretch. And our staff, I give them a lot of credit, because they keep me from getting there at times, of really understanding what the task is.” Marmol’s comments reflect a focus on using the losing streak as a teaching moment rather than a setback. The manager also discussed the mental approach required to navigate difficult stretches. “You have back-to-back walks, and then you chase a changeup off the plate in order to end the inning,” Marmol explained.#chicago_cubs #st_louis_cardinals #oliver_marmol #busch_stadium #michael_mcgreevy
Michael McGreevy helps Cardinals beat Brewers on his birthday Michael McGreevy celebrated his 26th birthday with a standout performance as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1, ending a four-game losing streak and a seven-game skid against their NL Central rivals. The right-handed starter pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six and walking one. His outing marked the 13th consecutive birthday win for Cardinals pitchers, a streak dating back to Sept. 25, 2008, when Joel Piñeiro recorded a 12-3 victory over the D-backs on his 30th birthday. McGreevy, who had never pitched on his birthday before, admitted to nerves but found success after navigating a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised McGreevy’s ability to settle in, highlighting his effective use of the sinker, cutter, and sweeper. “He made pitches and was able to settle in,” Marmol said. “The overall mix was really good. Giving us exactly what we needed today was important.” The manager also noted the strategic decision to move McGreevy’s start back a day to provide extra rest ahead of the All-Star break, emphasizing the value of listening to players’ input. “It’s good to stick to what we said we’d do,” Marmol added. McGreevy’s game wasn’t without incident. In the fifth inning, Cooper Pratt’s 103-mph liner hit him in the chest, prompting a brief pause as the training staff checked on him. Despite the collision, McGreevy recovered to throw out Pratt at first base and delivered a “rock and roll” gesture. “I think I shook Pedro [Pagés] too,” McGreevy joked, referencing the hit as “karma.” The last Cardinals starter to win on his birthday was Kwang Hyun Kim, who defeated the Cubs on July 22, 2021.#milwaukee_brewers #st_louis_cardinals #oliver_marmol #jordan_walker #michael_mcgreevy
Marlins Host Cardinals in Opening of 3-Game Series The Miami Marlins will open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday at 6:40 p.m. EDT, marking the first matchup between the two teams this season. The Cardinals, currently 13-8 overall and second in the NL Central, face the Marlins, who are 10-12 and second in the NL East. The game will be broadcast with the Marlins as -134 favorites and the Cardinals at +113, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. The Marlins enter the series with a strong home record, posting an 8-5 mark at their stadium, but they have struggled on the road, with a 6-3 record in away games. Their overall performance has been mixed, with a 10-12 record. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have a solid road record, going 6-3 in games played outside St. Louis. Both teams have shown resilience in specific scenarios: the Marlins have a 6-3 record in games where they did not surrender a home run, while the Cardinals have a 9-3 record when they record at least eight hits. Pitching will be a key factor in the series. The Cardinals are expected to start Michael McGreevy, who has a 1-1 record with a 2.49 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts. The Marlins will rely on Max Meyer, who is 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts. Both pitchers have shown the ability to dominate, but their contrasting ERAs highlight the potential for a high-scoring game. Top performers for the Marlins include Liam Hicks, who has three doubles and four home runs, and Otto Lopez, who has hit 13 of 38 balls in his last 10 games, including three doubles, a triple, two home runs, and six RBIs. For the Cardinals, Jordan Walker leads the team with 12 extra-base hits, including four doubles and eight home runs.#miami_marlins #st_louis_cardinals #max_meyer #michael_mcgreevy #liam_hicks
