The Cardinals entered Monday’s game with a 72-72 record, sitting four games behind the final National League Wild Card position. After taking two of three games from the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, St. Louis remained in the playoff hunt and headed into San Francisco with little room for error.
The most notable lineup development involved Joshua Báez, one of the young players the Cardinals have been giving opportunities to during the final stretch of the season.
Báez Drops One Spot in the Order
Báez was moved from sixth to seventh in the batting order for Monday night’s matchup with the Giants. He was also set to start in left field.
The move came one day after Báez had occupied the No. 6 spot against Colorado. Despite the relatively small change, it is noteworthy because St. Louis has been closely evaluating its young players while simultaneously trying to keep its postseason hopes alive.
Báez had an encouraging moment during Sunday’s victory over the Rockies. After Nolan Gorman hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, Báez was among the Cardinals players celebrating with him. Báez also recorded a single during the game.
Full Cardinals Lineup vs. San Francisco
According to the lineup reported by Underdog MLB and cited by Heavy, St. Louis’ starting order for September 7 was:
- Brendan Donovan Torres — 2B
- Iván Herrera — C
- Alec Burleson — 1B
- Jordan Walker — RF
- Leo Bernal — DH
- Nolan Gorman — 3B
- Joshua Báez — LF
- Thomas Saggese — SS
- Nick Church — CF
- Michael McGreevy — SP
The lineup illustrates how much youth the Cardinals are incorporating into their roster. Báez, Bernal, Saggese and Church are all part of a younger group that St. Louis hopes can become important contributors moving forward.
Why the Báez Move Matters
On the surface, moving Báez down one spot may not appear to be a major development. However, the timing makes it interesting.
The Cardinals are attempting to accomplish two things simultaneously. First, they are trying to stay alive in an increasingly difficult Wild Card race. Second, they need to determine which young players can become dependable major-league contributors.
Báez is part of that evaluation process. Giving him regular playing time against major-league pitching allows the Cardinals to assess his offensive approach, defensive ability and overall readiness.
Moving him to seventh could also give him a slightly different role in the lineup. Instead of carrying the pressure associated with hitting in the middle of the order, Báez can potentially focus on producing from the lower portion of the lineup while continuing to gain experience.
Cardinals’ Bigger Playoff Picture
The lineup adjustment comes at a critical point in St. Louis’ season.
With the Cardinals sitting at 72-72 and four games behind the final NL Wild Card spot, there is still a mathematical path to October. But the margin for error is becoming extremely small.
Winning two of three from Colorado was important, but St. Louis now has to carry that momentum into San Francisco. The Giants are already out of the playoff race, but that does not necessarily make them an easy opponent. San Francisco still has plenty of talented players capable of disrupting the Cardinals’ postseason pursuit.
For St. Louis, every game now has added significance. A productive series against San Francisco could keep the Cardinals within striking distance, while a poor series could effectively end their already slim playoff hopes.
At the same time, the emergence of players such as Báez gives Cardinals fans something to watch beyond the standings. Even if the postseason dream ultimately disappears, the performances of the team’s younger players could provide an important glimpse into what the next version of the Cardinals might look like.
Bottom line: The immediate news is that Joshua Báez moved from sixth to seventh in the Cardinals’ lineup for the Giants series opener while remaining the starting left fielder. It is a modest lineup change, but it comes during a crucial stretch in which St. Louis is both chasing an unlikely playoff berth and evaluating its young core.
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