St. Louis Cardinals

Leahy has allowed fewer than two earned runs in each of his last five starts, posting a 1.44 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 25 innings during that stretch. He starts tonight at Busch Stadium against Colorado — a favorable park and favorable lineup. His season walk rate (1.33 WHIP) is the main concern, but the recent command improvement has been consistent. Add in 12-team leagues and stream with confidence in favorable matchups.

Started vs Colorado Rockies (7W-4L, 3.44 ERA)

Leahy is the best streaming pitcher you're probably not targeting. His last four starts produced just 2 earned runs in 25.1 innings — the WHIP backs it up, this isn't BABIP luck. St. Louis is hosting Cincinnati this week and the Reds rank 10th-worst in team OPS. If Leahy is sitting at 22% in your league, this is a same-day add.

Ignore the full-season ERA — Leahy's last five starts have been 1.42 ERA dominance, including four consecutive outings allowing one run or fewer. The Cardinals back-end arm has clearly found something, and at 18% owned he's still gettable before your league notices. Solid SP3/streaming target in all 12-team formats.

Started @ LAA (0W-0L, 5.00 ERA)

Ignore the full-season ERA — Leahy has allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five starts. He starts tonight against the Angels and the Cardinals' offense gives him a solid win floor. Deep-league streaming add at 6% owned.

The Cardinals southpaw has carved out a rotation spot in St. Louis and is surfacing on waiver wire radars for Week 16. Liberatore features a plus changeup and has allowed just two runs over 11 innings in his first two MLB starts. Availability could hit 0% quickly if he strings another strong outing together. Worth a stash now in 14+ team formats before the crowd catches on.

Baez is demolishing Triple-A Memphis with a .396/.434/.917 slash line over his last 53 plate appearances, adding six home runs in that stretch to bring his season total to 19. He also has 12 steals — genuine five-tool upside. The Cardinals added him to the 40-man roster earlier in June, which is the organizational signal that his call-up clock is running. At 11% owned, the stash cost is low; by the time the call-up drops, ownership will spike. Grab him now.

Nootbaar made his 2026 debut Friday with two hits and an RBI in the Cardinals' 10-3 win over the Reds after missing the entire first two-plus months with offseason double heel surgery. Pre-injury, he is a legitimate plus-OBP outfielder who hits in a solid Cardinals lineup spot. At roughly 13% owned, this is one of the widest available-vs.-should-be-owned gaps on the waiver wire. Add immediately in 14+ team leagues; target in 12-team leagues with deep benches.

Holds 13 saves and the role, but 4 blown saves on a playoff-contending Cardinals team is tightening his leash noticeably. St. Louis won't accept much more. Hold cautiously and move him if a quality offer arrives — the Cardinals will find an alternative before the deadline if he keeps blowing games.

Has 12 of 15 save chances converted with a 2.70 ERA and a dominant 23:2 K:BB in 2026. Three blown saves keep this in watch territory rather than locked. Roster confidently in 10-team leagues; monitor in shallower formats with JoJo Romero as the backup plan.

Has 12 of 15 save chances converted with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 23:2 K:BB in 2026 — the role is functionally his. Three blown saves and ongoing competition from JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek keep this in watch territory. Roster confidently in 10-team leagues; monitor in shallower formats.

Started @ Milwaukee Brewers (2W-2L, 4.70 ERA)

Has allowed runs in 4 of his last 9 outings — the dominant April form has slipped. Still the Cardinals' primary save option but the leash is shortening. Hold for now; monitor the next 3-4 appearances closely.

Started @ Cincinnati Reds (5W-3L, 3.94 ERA)

STATUS UPDATE: Cardinals are eyeing June 1 as the target activation date (heel injuries). Nootbaar has been on the 60-day IL since spring. The Cardinals will need OF help when he returns — top of the order for STL. Stash in deeper leagues; hold in 12-team OBP formats.

4th blown save of the year. Closer Monkey: 'trending toward second half.' Hold for now — the Cardinals haven't named an alternative — but the slider whiff rate is down and George Soriano is the speculative next-up if O'Brien continues to slip.

Started vs Pittsburgh Pirates (2W-2L, 4.40 ERA)

Started vs Kansas City Royals (4W-3L, 4.31 ERA)

13 saves, 5-of-6 conversions in May. The Cardinals are winning enough close games to drive volume. Top-15 RP rest of season — claim if somehow on your wire.

Started @ Athletics (2W-1L, 4.07 ERA)

Started @ San Diego Padres (4W-3L, 4.93 ERA)

11 saves, clean ninth Friday with a strikeout. The Cardinals' rotation is keeping games close; O'Brien's getting plenty of work. Top-15 RP rest of season.

Started vs Milwaukee Brewers (3W-3L, 5.52 ERA)

Started vs Los Angeles Dodgers (0W-1L, 4.75 ERA)