2020 St. Louis Cardinals season
Major League Baseball season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2020 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 139th for the St. Louis Cardinals of the Major League Baseball (MLB), a franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 129th season for the Cardinals in the National League, and their 15th at Busch Stadium III. They entered the season as defending NL Central champions.
| 2020 St. Louis Cardinals | |
|---|---|
| |
| League | National League |
| Division | Central |
| Ballpark | Busch Stadium |
| City | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Record | 30–28 (.517) |
| Divisional place | 2nd |
| Owners | William DeWitt Jr. |
| General managers | Mike Girsch |
| Managers | Mike Shildt |
| Television | Fox Sports Midwest (Dan McLaughlin, Rick Horton, Jim Edmonds, Brad Thompson) |
| Radio | KMOX NewsRadio 1120 St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network (Mike Shannon, John Rooney, Rick Horton, Mike Claiborne) |
| Stats | ESPN.com Baseball Reference |
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2]
On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.[3]
On July 1, 2020, it was announced the Cardinals would play the Chicago White Sox on August 13 in the inaugural MLB at Field of Dreams game, replacing the New York Yankees.[4] The appearance in Dyersville, Iowa also replaces the team's canceled trip to London in June for a series with National League Central rivals, the Chicago Cubs.[5] On August 3, MLB canceled the Field of Dreams game due to "logistical problems."[6]
The Cardinals made the expanded playoffs but lost to the San Diego Padres in the NLWCS. The Cardinals suffered just their second winner-take-all game loss in the postseason over their last 10 winner-take-all postseason games played dating back to 2002 (2012 NLCS Game 7 being the other).
Regular season
On August 13, the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox were scheduled to play the first ever MLB at Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa. But due to the pandemic and the MLB commissioner announcing the 60-game season and that the AL and NL will play against each other in the same division, the Yankees were taken off the match. On July 1, MLB announced that the Cardinals will replace the Yankees in the game against the White Sox. The game was subsequently postponed to August 12, 2021, with the White Sox' opponent once again being the Yankees. Also, on June 13–14, the Cardinals were supposed to play against the Chicago Cubs in the London Series. But that was also cancelled due to the pandemic.
Game log
| 2020 St. Louis Cardinals Game Log, 30–28 (.517) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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July: 2–3 (.400) (Home: 2–1; Away: 0–2)
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August: 11–10 (.524) (Home: 6–8; Away: 5–2)
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September: 17–15 (.531) (Home: 6–6; Away: 11–9)
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| Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Cardinals team member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Season standings
National League Central
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 34 | 26 | .567 | — | 19–14 | 15–12 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 30 | 28 | .517 | 3 | 14–13 | 16–15 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 31 | 29 | .517 | 3 | 16–13 | 15–16 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 29 | 31 | .483 | 5 | 15–14 | 14–17 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 19 | 41 | .317 | 15 | 13–19 | 6–22 |
If rescheduled games are the difference between the 5–8th seed in the playoffs, they are not played. The Cardinals did not play two games.
National League playoff standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 43 | 17 | .717 |
| Atlanta Braves | 35 | 25 | .583 |
| Chicago Cubs | 34 | 26 | .567 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | 37 | 23 | .617 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 30 | 28 | .517 |
| Miami Marlins | 31 | 29 | .517 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | 31 | 29 | .517 | +2 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 29 | 31 | .483 | — |
| San Francisco Giants | 29 | 31 | .483 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 28 | 32 | .467 | 1 |
| Washington Nationals | 26 | 34 | .433 | 3 |
| New York Mets | 26 | 34 | .433 | 3 |
| Colorado Rockies | 26 | 34 | .433 | 3 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 25 | 35 | .417 | 4 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 19 | 41 | .317 | 10 |
Record vs. opponents
| Team | CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL | AL | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | — | 6–4 | 5–5 | 6–4 | 5–5 | 12–8 | ||||||||||
| Cincinnati | 4–6 | — | 6–4 | 7–3 | 4–6 | 10–10 | ||||||||||
| Milwaukee | 5–5 | 4–6 | — | 5–5 | 5–5 | 10–10 | ||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 4–6 | 3–7 | 5–5 | — | 4–6 | 3–17 | ||||||||||
| St. Louis | 5–5 | 6–4 | 5–5 | 6–4 | — | 8–10 | ||||||||||
Opening Day lineup
| 16 | Kolten Wong | 2B |
| 19 | Tommy Edman | 3B |
| 46 | Paul Goldschmidt | 1B |
| 11 | Paul DeJong | SS |
| 13 | Matt Carpenter | DH |
| 4 | Yadier Molina | C |
| 25 | Dexter Fowler | RF |
| 41 | Tyler O'Neill | LF |
| 48 | Harrison Bader | CF |
| 22 | Jack Flaherty | P |
COVID-19 outbreak
On July 31, 2020, the Cardinals announced two of their players have tested positive for COVID-19. Their game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee that day was postponed. Following additional positive test results, the rest of the three-game series with the Brewers and the four-game series with the Detroit Tigers were also postponed. It was later revealed that there were six staff members who had tested positive and seven players including Yadier Molina, Paul DeJong, Edmundo Sosa, Rangel Ravelo, Junior Fernández, and Kodi Whitley. Because of the timing of a simultaneous move to the IR list, it is speculated that the seventh player was Carlos Martinez,[7] which he later confirmed on his personal Instagram.[8]
As the Cardinals prepared to return to play against the Chicago Cubs again on August 7, three additional members of the Cardinals tested positive for COVID-19.[9] As a result, the three-game series against the Cubs was postponed.[10] A day later, the Cardinals three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates was also postponed.[11] It was later announced that the players were Austin Dean and roommates Ryan Helsley and Lane Thomas. Additionally, one other staff member had newly tested positive bringing the team total of positive tests to 17, including 10 players.[12] Austin Gomber was added to the Covid IL due to contact tracing even though he has not tested positive and returned to play on August 19.[13]
On August 13, it was announced that the Cardinals' season would resume that Saturday with a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. Multiple doubleheaders would be added throughout the season to try to make up as many lost games as possible.[14] As part of a series of roster and staff changes, former third base coach Jose Oquendo returned to the team as an addition to the coaching staff while assistant coach Willie McGee opted out for the season due to personal health concerns.[15] Third base coach Pop Warner returned to the club in time for the August 27 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Cardinals took the unusual step of renting 41 cars and having staff and players drive from St. Louis to Chicago in their own cars to avoid any further outbreaks.[16] The Cardinals returned to play on August 15 with a doubleheader against the White Sox.[17] After finishing the three-game series against the White Sox, the Cardinals played two doubleheaders in three days against the Cubs.[18] In the second game of each doubleheader, the Cardinals were the designated home team.[19] As a result, the Cardinals played eight games in five days.[20] They finished that stretch with a 4–4 record.
Molina was activated and returned to the lineup on August 20 and many of the others affected were expected to return to the team within a week.[21]
Roster
Debuts
The following players made their Major League Baseball debuts during the 2020 season
- Dylan Carlson (August 15)
- Nabil Crismatt (August 17)
- Jesús Cruz (August 18)
- Seth Elledge (August 16)
- Rob Kaminsky (August 16)
- Kwang Hyun Kim (July 24)
- John Nogowski (August 16)
- Johan Oviedo (August 19)
- Roel Ramírez (August 16)
- Ricardo Sánchez (August 16)
- Max Schrock (August 15)
- Kodi Whitley (July 26)
- Jake Woodford (August 15)
Player stats
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average
| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | AVG | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Edman | 55 | 204 | 29 | 51 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 2 | 16 | .250 | .368 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 58 | 191 | 31 | 58 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 37 | .304 | .466 |
| Kolten Wong | 53 | 181 | 26 | 48 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 20 | .265 | .326 |
| Paul DeJong | 45 | 152 | 17 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 17 | .250 | .349 |
| Yadier Molina | 42 | 145 | 12 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 6 | .262 | .359 |
| Brad Miller | 48 | 142 | 21 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 25 | 1 | 25 | .232 | .451 |
| Matt Carpenter | 50 | 140 | 22 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 23 | .186 | .314 |
| Tyler O'Neill | 50 | 139 | 20 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 3 | 15 | .173 | .360 |
| Dylan Carlson | 35 | 110 | 11 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 8 | .200 | .364 |
| Harrison Bader | 50 | 106 | 21 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 13 | .226 | .443 |
| Dexter Fowler | 31 | 90 | 14 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 10 | .233 | .389 |
| Lane Thomas | 18 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .111 | .250 |
| Rangel Ravelo | 13 | 35 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | .171 | .286 |
| Matt Wieters | 19 | 35 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .229 |
| Max Schrock | 11 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .176 | .353 |
| Andrew Knizner | 8 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .313 |
| Justin Williams | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .200 |
| Austin Dean | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .250 | .500 |
| John Nogowski | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 |
| Team totals | 58 | 1752 | 240 | 410 | 73 | 7 | 51 | 231 | 18 | 205 | .234 | .371 |
Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Wainwright | 5 | 3 | 3.15 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 65.2 | 54 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 54 |
| Jack Flaherty | 4 | 3 | 4.91 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 40.1 | 33 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 49 |
| Dakota Hudson | 3 | 2 | 2.77 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 39.0 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 31 |
| Kwang-hyun Kim | 3 | 0 | 1.62 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 39.0 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 24 |
| Daniel Ponce de Leon | 1 | 3 | 4.96 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 32.2 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 45 |
| Austin Gomber | 1 | 1 | 1.86 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 29.0 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 27 |
| Johan Oviedo | 0 | 3 | 5.47 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 24.2 | 24 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 16 |
| Génesis Cabrera | 4 | 1 | 2.42 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 22.1 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 32 |
| Tyler Webb | 1 | 1 | 2.08 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 21.2 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 19 |
| Jake Woodford | 1 | 0 | 5.57 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 21.0 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 16 |
| Carlos Martínez | 0 | 3 | 9.90 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 20.0 | 32 | 26 | 22 | 10 | 17 |
| Alex Reyes | 2 | 1 | 3.20 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 19.2 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
| John Gant | 0 | 3 | 2.40 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 18 |
| Giovanny Gallegos | 2 | 2 | 3.60 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 15.0 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 21 |
| Andrew Miller | 1 | 1 | 2.77 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 13.0 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
| Ryan Helsley | 1 | 1 | 5.25 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 12.0 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Seth Elledge | 1 | 0 | 4.63 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 11.2 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Nabil Crismatt | 0 | 0 | 3.24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8.1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Ricardo Sánchez | 0 | 0 | 6.75 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Rob Kaminsky | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4.2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Kodi Whitley | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4.2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Junior Fernández | 0 | 0 | 18.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Ryan Meisinger | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Max Schrock | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jesús Cruz | 0 | 0 | 18.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Roel Ramírez | 0 | 0 | 81.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Team totals | 30 | 28 | 3.90 | 58 | 58 | 13 | 473.0 | 376 | 229 | 205 | 204 | 464 |
Postseason
Game log
Postseason rosters
| Playoff rosters | |
|---|---|
National League Wild Card Series
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Minor league system and first-year player draft
Teams
| Level | Team | League | Division | Manager | W–L/Stats | Standing | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple-A | Memphis Redbirds | Pacific Coast League | American–South | Ben Johnson | 0–0 | N/A | [22] |
| Double-A | Springfield Cardinals | Texas League | North | Joe Kruzel | 0–0 | N/A | |
| Class A-Advanced | Palm Beach Cardinals | Florida State League | South | Dann Bilardello | 0–0 | N/A | |
| Class A | Peoria Chiefs | Midwest League | Western | Erick Almonte | 0–0 | N/A | |
| Class A Short Season | State College Spikes | New York–Penn League | Pinckney | José León | 0–0 | N/A | |
| Rookie | Johnson City Cardinals | Appalachian League | West | Roberto Espinoza | 0–0 | N/A | |
| GCL Cardinals | Gulf Coast League | East | Joe Hawkins | 0–0 | N/A | ||
| Foreign Rookie | DSL Cardinals Blue | Dominican Summer League | South | Fray Peniche | 0–0 | N/A | |
| DSL Cardinals Red | San Pedro | Estuar Ruiz | 0–0 | N/A | |||
Major League Baseball draft
The 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft took place on June 10 and June 11. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft was shortened to five rounds.
2020 Draft Tracker (StL Cardinals)
| 2020 St. Louis Cardinals complete draft list | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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