The Cardinals’ Rebuild May Not be as Long as People Think with Rookies Playing like this
Rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy just keeps proving he belongs. On Saturday night, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 25-year-old starter turned in another steady performance, pitching six innings of ground-ball brilliance in a 4-2 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. McGreevy (6-2) allowed just one run on five hits and two walks, working his way out of traffic by pounding the zone and letting his defense do the heavy lifting. He didn’t record a single strikeout — not one — but the Reds couldn’t square him up, producing 12 outs on the ground.
Here’s the kicker: the Cardinals didn’t record a single strikeout all night. Not McGreevy. Not the bullpen. Nobody. Yet they still won — the first time St. Louis has done that since 2009. In an era where pitchers live and die by the strikeout, the Cards proved there’s still more than one way to win a ballgame.
Church Delivers, Contreras and Pages Go Deep
After stranding the bases loaded in a bizarre first inning that saw an infield fly and a rundown end the rally, the Cardinals needed someone to come through. That someone was Nathan Church. With the bases juiced again in the fourth, the rookie outfielder lined a two-run single to give St. Louis the lead.
The long ball kept things rolling. Willson Contreras drilled a solo shot in the seventh, and after Reds infielder Matt McLain answered with a homer, Pedro Pages crushed one of his own in the eighth to restore the two-run cushion.
Kyle Leahy came on late and slammed the door, recording the final four outs for his first career save.
Rookie Pitcher McGreevy Stepping Into the Spotlight
For a rotation that’s been inconsistent all year, McGreevy is starting to look like the anchor. Since joining the starting staff in July, the rookie has been as reliable as it gets, eating innings, limiting damage, and keeping his team in games. He may not rack up double-digit strikeouts, but he’s showing the poise and consistency of a future staff ace.
The Cardinals (now just one game shy of .500) have rattled off three straight wins and will look for the sweep on Sunday behind Andre Pallante. For McGreevy, Saturday night was just another step forward in what’s shaping up to be a breakout rookie season — and for St. Louis, maybe a glimpse of their pitching future.
