Cardinal Fantasy Report

Scott Yerbic is on vacation this week, so we reached out to our parent site, BaseballDigest.com, who kindly sent us a temporary fill in with Matt Wilson to bring you this week’s Fantasy Report.

The Cardinals are still trying to cling on to hope of making the playoffs. Here’s a look at the fantasy matchups for this week:

Colby Rasmus finally returned to the field last week after a calf strain. He’s a concern for consistent playing time with LaRussa’s penchant to sit him against lefties and of course the soap opera between the two. However, LaRussa stated recently that Rasmus, “is the best fifth place hitter we’ve got.” With the Card facing three left-handers this week in Chris Narveson, Chris Capuano, and Mike Minor, you may want to sit Rasmus if you have a better option.

Jake Westbrook is the only guaranteed two-time starter this week but will not have it easy matching up against Yovanni Gallardo and Tom Hanson. If Kyle Lohse fares well at Milwaukee he could go again Sunday against Atlanta’s Tim Hudson, but I do not know why I’m really discussing Lohse because if you are starting him at this point, you’ve got major fantasy issues.

Even though Adam Wainwright has lost his last four outings, you have to continue to think that he will right his ship. He has had two starts at Turner Field with a 1.80 ERA.

Albert Pujols has a career .333 against Gallardo, .556 average off Capuano with 3 HR in 27 AB, .429 with 2 HR in 7 AB against Narveson, .200 against Jurrjens, .435 vs. Hudson and has not faced Minor or Hanson. You don’t need me to tell you to start Pujols but the Milwaukee trip (career .451 AVG at Miller Park) may help him snap out of a recent little funk (4 hits in his last 28 ABs).

Yadier Molina has hit .305 in his last 30 days bringing his average up a bit. He’s a Catcher that will not hurt you in the average column right now and has had a little pop at Miller Park (5 of his 40 career HR) and has hit .333 at Turner Field.

Matt Holliday has continued his consistency this year and has hit well in both ballparks on this road trip – .426 at Miller Park and .452 at Turner field.

It may be as early as Tuesday for the Cardinals to get reinforcements with Allen Craig and Tyler Greene getting added to the roster. With the Cardinals in a stretch of 20 games straight they may get playing time but neither packs enough punch to warrant a roster spot.