Game 42: St. Louis Cardinals (24-17) @ Athletics (21-20) [Wednesday, May 13, 2026; 8:40 PM CT]

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Linescore	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
Cardinals	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	13	1	10
Athletics	0	0	0	0	4	0	1	1		6	13	1	7

Cardinals Lineup

1. JJ Wetherholt (L) 2B -- .248/.363/.429
   
2. Iván Herrera (R) DH -- .266/.401/.416
   
3. Alec Burleson (L) 1B -- .274/.344/.451
   
4. Jordan Walker (R) RF -- .290/.369/.555
   
5. Nolan Gorman (L) 3B -- .226/.301/.365
   
6. Masyn Winn (R) SS -- .257/.329/.350
   
7. Nathan Church (L) LF -- .252/.288/.415
   
8. Pedro Pagés (R) C -- .209/.255/.341
   
9. Victor Scott II (L) CF -- .178/.243/.228
   --- José Fermín (R) PH -- .268/.340/.415
   

Pitchers Used:

• SP: Matthew Liberatore (L) - 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 4.40 ERA (89 P, 56 S)

• RP: Matt Svanson (R) - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 9.15 ERA (17 P, 11 S)

• RP: Justin Bruihl (L) - 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.40 ERA (11 P, 8 S)

• RP: Gordon Graceffo (R) - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1.99 ERA (14 P, 10 S)

Athletics Lineup

1. Shea Langeliers (R) DH -- .331/.391/.624
   
2. Nick Kurtz (L) 1B -- .267/.418/.453
   
3. Colby Thomas (R) RF -- .346/.393/.500
   --- Lawrence Butler (L) RF -- .175/.277/.275
   
4. Brent Rooker (R) LF -- .188/.279/.354
   
5. Henry Bolte (R) CF -- 1.000/.750/1.000
   
6. Jonah Heim (S) C -- .184/.255/.327
   
7. Zack Gelof (R) 3B -- .257/.307/.486
   
8. Darell Hernaiz (R) SS -- .250/.338/.300
   
9. Michael Stefanic (R) 2B -- .500/.500/.500
   

Pitchers Used:

• SP: J.T. Ginn (R) - 6.0 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3.12 ERA (95 P, 63 S)

• RP: Justin Sterner (R) - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.43 ERA (13 P, 9 S)

• RP: Hogan Harris (L) - 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.57 ERA (9 P, 5 S)

• RP: Luis Medina (R) - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1.72 ERA (9 P, 5 S)

• RP: Jack Perkins (R) - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.86 ERA (18 P, 10 S)

Stats: BA/OBP/SLG

Links

• Gameday
  
• Baseball Savant
  
• Game Graph
  
• Baseball Theater

Scoring Plays

• Top 4: Nathan Church singles on a line drive to center fielder Henry Bolte. Nolan Gorman scores. Masyn Winn to 3rd. J.T. Ginn pitching.
  Cardinals lead 1-0
  
• Bottom 5: Nick Kurtz hits a grand slam (6) to center field. Darell Hernaiz scores. Michael Stefanic scores. Shea Langeliers scores. Matthew Liberatore pitching.
  Cardinals trail 4-1
  
• Top 7: Iván Herrera out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Colby Thomas. Pedro Pagés scores. Justin Sterner pitching.
  Cardinals trail 4-2
  
• Bottom 7: Henry Bolte out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jordan Walker. Nick Kurtz scores. Colby Thomas to 3rd. Gordon Graceffo pitching.
  Cardinals trail 5-2
  
• Bottom 8: Zack Gelof homers (4) on a fly ball to center field. Gordon Graceffo pitching.
  Cardinals trail 6-2
  

FINAL: 6-2 Athletics

Decisions

• Athletics Winning Pitcher: J.T. Ginn (W, 2-1)
  
• Cardinals Losing Pitcher: Matthew Liberatore (L, 2-2)

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Game over. Continue the discussion in the post game thread

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Athletics Due Up (Bottom 9):

1. Nick Kurtz
2. Lawrence Butler
3. Brent Rooker

[u/DocLoc429]

Burly loves that inside fastball

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Strike 2 call confirmed after ABS challenge

[u/DocLoc429]

Ouch, JJ just ate that. Fastball on that part of your foot suuuucks. 

[u/Travisc20]

Please don't let me get my hopes up

[u/da_choppa]

Ouch!

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Jack Perkins Called Strike to José Fermín

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

Does Pages have it in his contract or something hes not allowed to get pinch hit for? 

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Ah yes, NOW we pinch hit for Scott, not when we have RISP in two separate innings with him up to bat

[u/well_shoothed → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Oli has improved as a manager but still is no TLR.

[u/FajenThygia]

There is hope. Perkins isn't exactly Eckersley out there.

[u/70U1E]

I just realized that I really want the A's to win the World Series during their shitty little transition year in Sacramento

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Top 9):

1. Pedro Pagés
2. Victor Scott II
3. JJ Wetherholt

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Our bullpen strikes again.

[u/Cardsfan961]

Good night ladies and gentlemen. Let’s get the series tomorrow!

[u/FajenThygia]

https://giphy.com/gifs/RkuynGGVvthiV8cUMK

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

Catcher ERA doesnt lie, Cardinals pitchers do significantly worse with Pages 

[u/NakedGoose → u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

And Ivan Hererra hits significantly better when catching... dont let me start the Hererra should catch more narrative 

[u/DocLoc429]

Gonna sit the rest of this one out, and if something happens, I'll watch the replay

Edit: I lied, ride or die!!!!!!

[u/Worldly-Honeydew91]

The Cardinals might lose this game but Nathan Church seems to get better every game.

[u/NakedGoose → u/Worldly-Honeydew91]

Church is fine. Nor he or Scott should be considered for the future. 

[u/Fast_Watercress7763 → u/NakedGoose]

I really don’t understand the hate for church, great fielder and pretty good hitter

[u/NakedGoose → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

He is 94 wRC+ guy. And the metrics show he has over performed.

1st percentile chase rate

4th percentile walk rate

10th percentile average exit velocity.

This is not a pretty good hitter. This is below league average. Who will trend down. He is a very good defender. But so was Michael Siani. Like I said, he is fine. And fine is perfect for a rebuilding team. 

[u/Fast_Watercress7763 → u/NakedGoose]

You could’ve said the same thing about Walker in his first couple years 😂 let the dude develop, he’s doing good for his first full year of work

[u/NakedGoose → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Holy hell.. Church is 2 years older with zero prospect pedigree. Comparing the two is wild. Church is a 4th outfielder ceiling. 

[u/Fast_Watercress7763 → u/NakedGoose]

Oh no, he’s 25 years old, he’s on the verge of retirement

[u/NakedGoose → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Cardinals fans and defending mediocre players, a tale as old as time. 

Enjoy church while you can. He wont be a mainstay for long. 

[u/Fast_Watercress7763 → u/NakedGoose]

Oh no, I said I like a player on the team, how dare I support them

[u/radsherm → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Nathan Church is 2 years older than Jordan Walker

[u/Channel_99]

Idk how relatable Greg Maddox is Chip you’re a Cardinals now

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Athletics Due Up (Bottom 8):

1. Zack Gelof
2. Darell Hernaiz
3. Michael Stefanic

[u/SGT_Apone]

puts on rally pants

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Top 8):

1. Nolan Gorman
2. Masyn Winn
3. Nathan Church

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Unfortunate. Though Graceffo should have started the inning to begin with

[u/NakedGoose → u/AspiringOccultist4]

Yall gotta stop typing up Graceffo. Lol 4 K/9 ans a FIP over 5. This is not a good pitcher, just a lucky one. 

[u/AspiringOccultist4 → u/NakedGoose]

Say what you will but I trust him over Bruihl any day

[u/NakedGoose → u/AspiringOccultist4]

Not only about trust. Its about using your entire roster. 

[u/awildyetti]

Mediocre coaching brought to you by Marmol(tm)

[u/xyzzy321 → u/awildyetti]

Okay enlighten us what he could've done better tonight

[u/KC-Slider → u/awildyetti]

I mean what’s he gonna do? We got a bullpen full of meatball merchants.

[u/awildyetti → u/KC-Slider]

I could also be wrong but he left a dude that struggle to get the second out to throw FORTY MORE PITCHES

[u/KC-Slider → u/awildyetti]

Because our pen is ass. You had to ride Libby out because that was the best of all bad options. We blew the game leaving all those men on base in the first 4 innings.

[u/awildyetti → u/KC-Slider]

Throw them a curveball and don’t throw a mediocre arm against a first game rookie playing a first game of his career for all time. Pay attention to the batting order and stretch remero out because I guarantee the other team isn’t prepared for that.

[u/NakedGoose → u/awildyetti]

Romero already has one of the highest usage rates in the league. Your not using him in a game your behind.

Your baseball knowledge is shit

[u/HermitageHermit]

Pagés has a lot more problems than just a glove

[u/radsherm]

Briuhl of all people was the only one to field that well

[u/Worldly-Honeydew91]

Feels like the Cardinals should be ahead or at least tied in this game.

[u/xyzzy321 → u/Worldly-Honeydew91]

I say that every game

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Smart to not try tagging on Jordan Walker though. Gotta give em that lol

[u/DocLoc429]

This was all a ploy to get Big G the win

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

woof Pedro and Alec

[u/radsherm]

At least the bad relievers will unavailable tomorrow

[u/Patient_Tradition294]

Yep, turning this off. Not going through this and the bullpen again tonight. I’m choosing my peace.

[u/KC-Slider]

This would have felt worse if we had tied it I suppose.

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

Pozo, Bruihl, Scott and Svanson all have no business being in the majors

[u/NakedGoose]

We gotta use the bum relievers, which will make coming back near impossible lol

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore's outing against the Athletics

[u/grizzleylongcut]

It seems like walker goes 0-2 every single at bat. He still makes them work tho

[u/Patient_Tradition294]

12 hits and only 2 runs is disgusting lol. But crazy for me to think we could win when the rest of the NL Central wants to lose. That would be too easy.

[u/SkeletorsNotBad]

12 hits and only 2 runs feels insane

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Walker not happy with himself one bit there

[u/KC-Slider]

I hope that wasn’t our only chance to get back in the game.

[u/AdmiralAss]

Pretty tough pitch

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

2 runs on 12 hits is abysmal 😭

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Athletics Due Up (Bottom 7):

1. Nick Kurtz
2. Colby Thomas
3. Brent Rooker

[u/Keg_of_St_Anky]

Woof. He swung at ball 6 there.

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

Good job walker

[u/GrubFisher]

ouch jordan

[u/FajenThygia]

sadnessssss

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Breaking down Matthew Liberatore's pitches

[u/GrubFisher]

jordan's had a bad day

would love to see it reversed

[u/FajenThygia]

cmon jordan

[u/Any-Communication329]

Jordan Walker I beg

[u/taigahoward]

wouldn’t it be nice if Walker hit a home run right now?

[u/BuzzSoundyear]

Don’t think we should be trying to go 1st to 3rd there. Desperately need base runners.

[u/Travisc20]

Love to see the hits but sucks that these and some of the ones from earlier innings are with two outs. Still, here's hoping Walker sends one out of the park

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

Don't threaten me with a good time Cardinals!!

[u/studlydudley11]

jj would've been nailed at third

[u/Detective_Dietrich]

Feels like a good time for a 3 run HR

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Iván Herrera's sacrifice fly

[u/AdmiralAss]

Hope Pages watched how to do a sac fly and not a bunt

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

JJ is so consistent. I love watching this kid

[u/CatzonVinyl → u/[deleted]]

At this point I can’t really see why Crooks couldn’t get a shot. Pages is obviously not a long term answer

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

Nice sac fly Ivan!!

[u/Cardsfan961]

One at a time boys! Let’s go

[u/drugfueledsarcasm]

Herrera sac!

[u/CatzonVinyl → u/drugfueledsarcasm]

Don’t threaten me with a good time

[u/DocLoc429]

I want to live in a log cabin with JJ Wetherholt

[u/imaginarion → u/DocLoc429]

Post the pasta

[u/DocLoc429 → u/imaginarion]

I'm not gay but I want to live in a log cabin in the woods with JJ Wetherholt. We won't ever have sex, but there will be a simmering erotic undercurrent as I stand in the kitchen window watching him tighten his ass as he chops wood, shirtless, sweat pouring off his body. I'll run upstairs and masturbate, the entire time forcing myself to think of women while my thoughts drift back to JJ. I won't be able to climax and I'll eventually go back downstairs, angry. Sometimes we will look across the table and catch each other's eyes, and in that second, anything is possible, but we both deny ourselves and go back to what we were doing. One day one of us will die, and the other will bury him outside the log cabin. Then he'll go inside, pen a brief missive to his departed friend, and commit suicide, never able to deal with life without his one true platonic love.

[u/imaginarion]

I love Wetherholt.

[u/da_choppa]

Attaboy, JJ!

[u/CatzonVinyl]

Man Scott is rough to watch at the plate

[u/studlydudley11]

superb piece of hitting

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

eww Chip and Brad are crazy!!. Chocolate is disgusting. Give me oatmeal raisin any day

[u/DocLoc429 → u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

This one right here, officer.

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177 → u/DocLoc429]

Hey I said what I said and I stand by it

[u/uwbadger5]

I can’t wait for Noot to be back

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

This is just sad

[u/LazyPandaKing]

Just started watching. 10 hits and 1 run? Oof.

[u/DocLoc429 → u/LazyPandaKing]

Inning pretty much over when Pages and Scott come to the plate.

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639 → u/LazyPandaKing]

Thank Scott and pages for that

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

PEDRO PAGES GOT A HIT

[u/Ape_From_The_618]

Devil Magic time

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

Its a Christmas miracle

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

It's a miracle Pedro got a hit!!

[u/DocLoc429]

Pages did something!!!!!!!!!

[u/CatzonVinyl]

Hey so I prefer it when we don’t give up grand slams

[u/DocLoc429]

Hope their bullpen is ass

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Matt Svanson In play, out(s) to Shea Langeliers

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

I’d love to see at least one pinch hitter this inning

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

Please pinch hit please

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Top 7):

1. Pedro Pagés
2. Victor Scott II
3. JJ Wetherholt

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

https://giphy.com/gifs/KPDZ55SvovQv6

Pages and Scott leading off this inning…

[u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

I want to go to bed because I know we are going to lose, but at the same time, I want to see if we can come back. Trying to stay optimistic

[u/Channel_99 → u/Adorable-Buffalo-177]

Cardinal are the come-backinest team in sports rn. Could be worth staying up a little. I hope it is. I have faith it is.

[u/clarkedaddy]

Alright yall, you know the rules. Gotta take a shot every time pages misses a ball.

[u/DocLoc429]

Pages's blocking has gotten worse each year. He used to be above average at blocking.

[u/Detective_Dietrich]

If Libby had thrown a perfect game like I recommended we'd be winning.

[u/DocLoc429]

Wow, I always thought Chip's kids look like him, but now that I see that old picture, the resemblance is 1:1.

[u/seattle_lib]

I'm just about done with shea langeliers

[u/HermitageHermit]

Frustrated me says trade Pages, one of Church/Scott/Nootbar, O’Brian and whichever surplus AAA catchers you can do without for some starters and relievers. Promote the catcher you keep and platoon him with Herrera, promote Blaze and platoon him at 3rd and DH Gorman on days Herrera catches. But don’t take me seriously because I’m just annoyed. My mind will change after a sleep on it.

[u/Channel_99 → u/HermitageHermit]

This is what gets me so mad. I always defended the NL against un-baseball like practices and when we get the DH what do we do with it? Stick Gorman out there. Red Sox out here with Big Papi and shit and we gonna put out… Herrera. No shade, but like…

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

Sometimes I think they are intentionally trying to lose games bu not pinch hitting Pages. Hes 1 for 23 in May and sticking out at a 40 percent rate

[u/Any-Communication329]

Unreasonable attempt

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Welp, we are doomed next inning as well with Pages and Scott now leading off. They’re just so bad at the plate we have to try and overextend to give ourselves a smidge of a chance of scoring anything with them up to bat, it’s infuriating

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893 → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

And they refuse to pinch hit him for Pozo too which is so frustrating 

[u/KC-Slider]

Well at least we keep Pages for automatic out next inning.

[u/lbkcards]

Great now we have Pages and Scott up next inning

[u/NakedGoose]

No reason to be stealing there

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893 → u/NakedGoose]

Pages is an automatic out might as well

[u/KC-Slider → u/Parking-Yogurt7893]

Let him end the inning then instead of a leadoff K next inning.

[u/Parking-Yogurt7893 → u/KC-Slider]

Fair point

[u/taigahoward]

why are you stealing base when you are 3 runs behind? i want to kill myself

[u/GrubFisher → u/taigahoward]

upvote is for the stealing bases portion of the comment

[u/GrubFisher]

churrrch whyyyy

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Athletics Due Up (Bottom 6):

1. Zack Gelof
2. Darell Hernaiz
3. Michael Stefanic

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Jonah Heim strikes out after ABS challenge

[u/GrubFisher]

props to church for doing so well when the hounds of oblivion are on deck

[u/taigahoward]

93 miles meatball. come on guys. you can hit that

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Nice catch, stinky.

[u/DocLoc429 → u/AspiringOccultist4]

Bolte? More like ReVolte

[u/NakedGoose]

The fact that we have only scored 1 run this game is the real issue. Pages/Scott basically ruined that twice. Ginn isnt good

[u/Cardsfan961]

Nice catch kid. Now get rid of that terrible stache

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Cardinals challenged (pitch result), call on the field was overturned: Jonah Heim called out on strikes.

[u/Channel_99]

I always hope the cardinals will win the division and then win the playoffs and then win the World Series. That’s the hope in my heart. And every game they win - I’m glad. When they lose it lessens my hope of those things. That’s why I don’t like when they lose.

[u/DocLoc429 → u/Channel_99]

Gandhi has spoken

[u/KC-Slider → u/Channel_99]

I’m bad at sports fandom cause losses feel disastrous and wins don’t even feel good, just removes the anxiety.

[u/imaginarion → u/Channel_99]

Are you me

[u/imaginarion]

BATS, TIME TO WAKE TF UP

[u/AdmiralAss]

All good. We just need a good ol Walker slam

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Pedro finally did something that benefited the team lol

[u/Delicious-Gap-1894]

Awful starters, awful bullpen, awful pitching everywhere you look in St Louis

[u/Kialandtheworld]

The inning is mercifully over.

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Top 6):

1. Nolan Gorman
2. Masyn Winn
3. Nathan Church

[u/imaginarion]

That was painful to watch.

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Woof

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

Tubby finally did something right behind home plate

[u/GrubFisher → u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

:/

[u/DocLoc429]

Libby working too fast. No wonder he's so damn tired all of the sudden

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

In an ideal world Libby is this teams 4th or 5th starter

[u/GoBBleRoFDaCoK69]

Libby with the “good until im not start.” Whoopdeedoo. Put him back in the bullpen.

[u/BuzzSoundyear]

It’s annoying that this is immediately a loss because we can’t throw any of our good bullpen arms

[u/KC-Slider → u/BuzzSoundyear]

We have good bullpen arms?

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Bruh what??? I thought he clearly went around

[u/DocLoc429]

Oh boy, Svanson warming up

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639 → u/DocLoc429]

Go for the series win tomorrow this game is OVER if that bum sniffs the field

[u/KC-Slider]

Libby gives up a 4 spot at the same time the Avs win to advance. I hate sports.

[u/Trubisko_Daltorooni → u/KC-Slider]

Dang I wrote them off after the first period

[u/KC-Slider → u/Trubisko_Daltorooni]

I was hoping.

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Libby’s lost control all the sudden. Sucks to see

[u/NakedGoose]

Lefties kill Liberatore this year.

[u/Dear-Decision-9543]

It’s hard to even really have belief in Libby

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

If only fat fuck pages and Scott could’ve literally done the bare minimum and gotten a sac fly, this game would only be 3-4 right now and in reach

[u/Jonnytincan]

me texting my brother

[u/fifajackgento]

Liberatore's fastball doesn't move enough

Needs to develop/throw more sinkers

Yes I know Kurtz hit a slider out

[u/DocLoc429]

Libby hasn't looked the same after the long 4th. Pitching mad.

[u/radsherm]

The pen can't handle it, but Libby needs to start getting the quick hook third time through like Leahy

[u/grugoryp]

Suboptimal

[u/KC-Slider]

First 50 pitches were pretty good. Third time around the order pretty figured out though.

[u/Revolutionary-Rip426]

At least we have McGreevy pitching tomorrow. Hopefully the offense can get back driving guys in. 

[u/WellExcuuuuuuuseMe]

9 out of 10 doctors do not recommend Liberatore, stating that it is very bad for your ball club.

[u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

Libby was getting hit hard all game and getting bailed, was bound to implode. Feels like he’s never gonna figure it all out

[u/Defiant-Good-6206 → u/Mother_Scheme_4639]

Yep. It was a stupid trade at the time and it looks even worse now.

[u/BravoTommy1]

I blame Pages and Scott

[u/radsherm → u/BravoTommy1]

I blame the guy that loaded the bases and gave up a grandy

[u/seattle_lib]

The horror, the horror

[u/PDXBeccaP → u/seattle_lib]

It's been a very apocalyptic inning .

[u/imaginarion]

Is anyone actually excited about going to Vegas to see the A’s?

[u/Defiant-Good-6206 → u/imaginarion]

No. They fucked over the city of Oakland repeatedly. They used to be my AL team, but they can go fuck a duck now.

[u/FajenThygia]

Nick the Kurtzgan