2020 St. Louis Cardinals season

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 (NL), and their 15th at Busch Stadium III. They entered the season as defending NL Central champions.

2020 St. Louis Cardinals
National League Central 2nd Place
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record30–28 (.517)
Divisional place2nd
Other information
OwnersWilliam DeWitt Jr.
General managersMike Girsch
ManagersMike Shildt
Local televisionFox Sports Midwest
(Dan McLaughlin, Rick Horton, Jim Edmonds, Brad Thompson)
Local radioKMOX NewsRadio 1120
St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network
(Mike Shannon, John Rooney, Rick Horton, Mike Claiborne)
StatsESPN.com
BB-reference
< Previous season     Next season >

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 2020 National League Wild Card Series. 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)
July: 2–3 (.400) (Home: 2–1 ; Away: 0–2)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordBox / L10
1July 24Pirates5–4Flaherty (1–0)Musgrove (0–1)Kim (1)1–0W1
2July 25Pirates9–1Wainwright (1–0)Williams (0–1)—2–0W2
3July 26Pirates1–5Keller (1–0)Hudson (0–1)–2–1L1
4July 28@Twins3–6Bailey (1–0)Martínez (0–1)Romo (1)2–2L2
5July 29@Twins0–3Hill (1–0)Ponce de Leon (0–1)Rogers (1)2–3L3
—July 31@BrewersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 2)
August: 11–10 (.524) (Home: 6–8 ; Away: 5–2)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordBox / L10
—August 1@BrewersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 14)
—August 2 (1)@BrewersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 16)
—August 2 (2)@BrewersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 25)
—August 3TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 5)
—August 4@TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 13)
—August 5 (1)@TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 13)
—August 5 (2)TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 10)
—August 6TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 10)
—August 7CubsPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 17)
—August 8CubsPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 19)
—August 9CubsPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 5)
—August 10PiratesPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 27)
—August 11PiratesPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 27)
—August 12PiratesPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 18)
—August 13@White SoxPostponed (Logistics at "Field of Dreams") (Makeup date: August 14)
—August 13 (1)@TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 28)
—August 13 (2)@TigersPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: September 28)
—August 14@White SoxPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: August 15)
6August 15 (1)@White Sox5–1Wainwright (2–0)Giolito (1–2)–3–3W1
7August 15 (2)@White Sox6–3Cabrera (1–0)Marshall (0–1)Miller (1)4–3W2
8August 16@White Sox2–7Keuchel (3–2)Hudson (0–2)—4–4L1
9August 17 (1)@Cubs3–1Gallegos (1–0)Hendricks (3–2)Miller (2)5–4W1
10August 17 (2)Cubs4–5Underwood Jr. (1–0)Webb (0–1)Jeffress (2)5–5L1
11August 18@Cubs3–6Darvish (4–1)Ponce de Leon (0–2)Wick (4)5–6L2
12August 19 (1)@Cubs9–3 (7)Webb (1–1)Mills (2–2)—6–6W1
13August 19 (2)Cubs2–4 (7)Jeffress (2–1)Miller (0–1)Kimbrel (1)6–7L1
14August 20Reds5–4Elledge (1–0)Iglesias (1–2)—7–7W1
15August 21Reds2–4Lorenzen (1–1)Cabrera (1–1)Iglesias (3)7–8L1
16August 22Reds3–0Kim (1–0)Miley (0–3)Gallegos (1)8–8W1
17August 23Reds6–2Cabrera (2–1)Mahle (0–1)—9–8W2
18August 24Royals9–3Flaherty (2–0)Keller (3–1)—10–8W3
19August 25Royals4–5Staumont (1–1)Gant (0–1)Rosenthal (7)10–9L1
20August 26Royals6–5Reyes (1–0)Rosario (0–1)—11–9W1
21August 27 (1)Pirates3–4 (8)Stratton (2–0)Gant (0–2)Rodríguez (2)11–10L1
22August 27 (2)Pirates0–2 (7)Ponce (1–1)Oviedo (0–1)Turley (1)11–11L2
23August 28Indians2–14Hill (1–0)Ponce de Leon (0–3)Plutko (1)11–12L3
24August 29Indians1–2 (12)Wittgren (2–0)Reyes (1–1)Hand (10)11–13L4
25August 30Indians7–2Wainwright (3–0)Civale (3–4)—12–13W1
26August 31@Reds7–5Hudson (1–2)DeSclafani (1–2)Gallegos (2)13–13W2
September: 17–15 (.531) (Home: 6–6 ; Away: 11–9)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordBox / L10
27September 1@Reds16–2Kim (2–0)Gray (5–2)—14–13W3
28September 2@Reds3–4Iglesias (2–2)Gallegos (1–1)—14–14L1
29September 4@Cubs1–4Darvish (7–1)Flaherty (2–1)Jeffress (5)14–15L2
30September 5 (1)@Cubs4–2 (7)Wainwright (4–0)Alzolay (0–1)Gallegos (3)15–15W1
31September 5 (2)Cubs5–1 (7)Helsley (1–0)Rea (1–1)—16–15W2
32September 6@Cubs7–3Hudson (2–2)Lester (2–2)—17–15W3
33September 7@Cubs1–5Hendricks (5–4)Oviedo (0–2)—17–16L1
34September 8 (1)Twins3–7 (7)Berríos (4–3)Martínez (0–2)—17–17L2
35September 8 (2)Twins6–4 (7)Cabrera (3–1)Dobnak (6–3)Gallegos (4)18–17W1
36 September 10 (1)Tigers12–2 (7)Flaherty (3–1)Skubal (1–2)—19–17W2
37September 10 (2)Tigers3–6 (7)Cisnero (2–2)Gallegos (1–2)Garcia (2)19–18L1
38September 11Reds1–3Castillo (2–5)Wainwright (4–2)—19–19L2
39September 12Reds7–1Hudson (3–2)Antone (0–2)—20–19W1
40September 13Reds5–10Bradley (2–0)Gant (0–3)Iglesias (7)20–20L1
41September 14 (1)@Brewers1–2 (8)Peralta (2–1)Helsley (1–1)—20–21L2
42September 14 (2)@Brewers3–2 (9)Cabrera (4–1)Topa (0–1)Webb (1)21–21W1
43September 15@Brewers3–18Anderson (3–3)Flaherty (3–2)—21–22L1
44September 16 (1)@Brewers4–2 (7)Wainwright (5–1)Woodruff (2–4)—22–22W1
45September 16 (2)@Brewers0–6 (7)Peralta (3–1)Oviedo (0–3)—22–23L1
46September 17@Pirates1–5Brault (1–3)Gomber (0–1)—22–24L2
47September 18 (1)@Pirates6–5 (7)Reyes (2–1)Williams (1–8)Helsley (1)23–24W1
48September 18 (2)Pirates7–2 (7)Miller (1–1)Kuhl (1–3)—24–24W2
49September 19@Pirates5–4Woodford (1–0)Howard (2–3)Cabrera (1)25–24W3
50September 20@Pirates2–1Flaherty (4–2)Holland (1–3)Miller (3)26–24W4
51September 21@Royals1–4Staumont (2–1)Wainwright (5–2)Holland (6)26–25L1
52September 22@Royals5–0Gomber (1–1)Singer (3–5)—27–25W1
53September 23@Royals3–12Duffy (4–4)Martínez (0–3)—27–26L1
54September 24Brewers4–2Kim (3–0)Burnes (4–1)Miller (4)28–26W1
55September 25 (1)Brewers0–3Williams (4–1)Flaherty (4–3)Hader (12)28–27L1
56September 25 (2)@Brewers9–1 (7)Ponce de Leon (1–3)Lindblom (2–4)—29–27W1
57September 26Brewers0–3Woodruff (3–5)Wainwright (5–3)Hader (13)29–28L1
58September 27Brewers5–2Gallegos (2–2)Anderson (4–4)Reyes (1)30–28W1
59September 28 (1)@TigersCancelled
60September 28 (2)@TigersCancelled
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Cardinals team member

National League Central
NL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
Chicago Cubs 3426 0.567 — 19–14 15–12
St. Louis Cardinals 3028 0.517 3 14–13 16–15
Cincinnati Reds 3129 0.517 3 16–13 15–16
Milwaukee Brewers 2931 0.483 5 15–14 14–17
Pittsburgh Pirates 1941 0.317 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
Division Leaders W L Pct.
Los Angeles Dodgers 4317 0.717
Atlanta Braves 3525 0.583
Chicago Cubs 3426 0.567


Division 2nd Place W L Pct.
San Diego Padres 3723 0.617
St. Louis Cardinals 3028 0.517
Miami Marlins 3129 0.517


Wild Card teams
(Top 2 teams qualify for postseason)		 W L Pct. GB
Cincinnati Reds 3129 0.517 +2
Milwaukee Brewers 2931 0.483 —
San Francisco Giants 2931 0.483 —
Philadelphia Phillies 2832 0.467 1
Washington Nationals 2634 0.433 3
New York Mets 2634 0.433 3
Colorado Rockies 2634 0.433 3
Arizona Diamondbacks 2535 0.417 4
Pittsburgh Pirates 1941 0.317 10

Record vs. opponents
2020 National League record

Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2020

Team CHC CIN MIL PIT STL AL
Chicago —6–45–56–45–512–8
Cincinnati 4–6—6–47–34–610–10
Milwaukee 5–54–6—5–55–510–10
Pittsburgh 4–63–75–5—4–63–17
St. Louis 5–56–45–56–4—8–10

Opening Day lineup
16Kolten Wong2B
19Tommy Edman3B
46Paul Goldschmidt1B
11Paul DeJongSS
13Matt CarpenterDH
  4Yadier MolinaC
25Dexter FowlerRF
41Tyler O'NeillLF
48Harrison BaderCF
22Jack FlahertyP

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
See also: St. Louis Cardinals all-time roster and List of St. Louis Cardinals coaches
2020 St. Louis Cardinals
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Debuts

The following players made their Major League Baseball debuts during the 2020 season

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 Edman55204295171526216.250.368
Paul Goldschmidt581913158130621137.304.466
Kolten Wong53181264842116520.265.326
Paul DeJong45152173860325117.250.349
Yadier Molina4214512382041606.262.359
Brad Miller48142213381725125.232.451
Matt Carpenter50140222660424023.186.314
Tyler O'Neill50139202450719315.173.360
Dylan Carlson3511011227131618.200.364
Harrison Bader50106212472411313.226.443
Dexter Fowler3190142120415110.233.389
Lane Thomas183654201204.111.250
Rangel Ravelo133556101604.171.286
Matt Wieters193537100403.200.229
Max Schrock111713001100.176.353
Andrew Knizner81614100400.250.313
Justin Williams3501000001.200.200
Austin Dean3411100003.250.500
John Nogowski1401000000.250.250
Team Totals5817522404107375123118205.234.371

Source:

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 Wainwright533.151010065.25425231554
Jack Flaherty434.9199040.13322221649
Dakota Hudson322.7788039.02413121531
Kwang-hyun Kim301.6287139.028971224
Daniel Ponce de Leon134.9698032.22318182045
Austin Gomber111.86144029.019661527
Johan Oviedo035.4755024.22418151016
Génesis Cabrera412.42190122.110961632
Tyler Webb112.08210121.21755719
Jake Woodford105.57121021.0201313516
Carlos Martínez039.9055020.03226221017
Alex Reyes213.20151119.2141071427
John Gant032.40170015.0964718
Giovanny Gallegos223.60160415.0966421
Andrew Miller112.77160413.0944516
Ryan Helsley115.25120112.0887810
Seth Elledge104.63120011.21166814
Nabil Crismatt003.246008.163318
Ricardo Sánchez006.753005.154454
Rob Kaminsky001.935004.233123
Kodi Whitley001.934004.221115
Junior Fernández0018.003003.066622
Ryan Meisinger000.002002.210043
Max Schrock000.001001.000000
Jesús Cruz0018.001001.032212
Roel Ramírez0081.001000.266611
Team Totals30283.90585813473.0376229205204464

Source:

Postseason

Game log
2020 Postseason (1–2)
National League Wild Card Series (1–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecord
1September 30@ Padres7–4Gallegos (1–0)Paddack (0–1)Reyes (1)1–0
2October 1@ Padres9–11Pagán (1–0)Ponce de Leon (0–1)Rosenthal (1)1–1
3October 2@ Padres0–4Adams (1–0)Flaherty (0–1)—1–2

Postseason rosters
Playoff rosters
National League Wild Card Series

Minor league system and first-year player draft

Teams
See also: List of St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates, St. Louis Cardinals minor league players, and Minor League Baseball
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
Main article: 2020 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 Order

2020 Draft Tracker (StL Cardinals)

2020 St. Louis Cardinals complete draft list
Round Pick Name, Age Pos / Bats School (State) Signing bonus
1 21 Jordan Walker, 18 3B / R Decatur High School (GA) $2.90 million
2 54 Masyn Winn, 18 SS/P / R Kingwood High School (TX) $2.10 million
2 63 Tink Hence, 17 P / R Watson Chapel High School (AR) $1.15 million
2 70 Alec Burleson, 21 OF / L East Carolina University (NC) $700,000
3 93 Levi Prater, 21 LHP / S University of Oklahoma (OK) $575,000
4 122 Ian Bedell, 21 RHP / R University of Missouri (MO) $800,000
5 152 L.J. Jones, 21 OF / R Long Beach State University (CA) $100,000

References
  1. Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  3. Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. "Reports: Cards replace Yanks for Field of Dreams". July 2020.
  5. "MLB London series 2020 between Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals cancelled due to coronavirus". Evening Standard. April 1, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020..
  6. West, Jenna. "Report: MLB Cancels 'Field of Dreams' Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. "Carlos Martinez among Cardinals with COVID-19". FanSided. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  8. "Carlos Martinez on Instagram: "hoy quiero darle gracias a Dios por otra oportunidad de vida, ya estoy libre de este virus que acaba con la humanidad, mi Dios tiene una batalla dura para cada uno de nosotro y con fe podemos salir victoriosos, te amo mi Dios. Gracias a cada una de las personas que oraron por mi salud que Dios se lo pague con mucha salud igual, 🙏🏽bendiciones para cada humano en el mundo.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Today I want to thank God for another chance at life, I am now free of this virus that ends humanity, my God has a tough battle for each one of us and with faith we can be victorious, I love you my God. Thanks to each of the people who prayed for my health may God pay it back with much equal health, blessings for every human in the world🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽"".
  9. "Cubs-Cards series postponed after positive tests". ESPN.com. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  10. "Cardinals series vs. Cubs postponed as COVID-19 outbreak grows; series vs. Pirates reportedly in jeopardy". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  11. "Pirates-Cardinals series this week postponed". ESPN.com. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  12. "Cardinals series against Pirates postponed as COVID-19 outbreak grows to 10 players, 17 total affected on team". ksdk.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  13. "Austin Gomber Lands on COVID-19 IL, Has Not Tested Positive".
  14. Schaeffer, Brenden. "Cardinals to return to play Saturday with doubleheader in Chicago". KMOV.com. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  15. Producer, Dan Greenwald, Digital Content. "Willie McGee opts out of rest of 2020 season". KMOV.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. Gregor, Scot (August 14, 2020). "Ready or not, Cardinals head to Chicago in 41-vehicle caravan". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  17. "Rust? What rust? Cards sweep DH from Sox". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  18. "Sox, Cards to play doubleheader after Friday's game postponed". NBC Sports Chicago. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  19. "Cubs listed as road team vs. Cardinals on historic Wrigley Field scoreboard". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  20. "Cubs vs. Cardinals - Game Recap - August 19, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  21. "Clutch Return: Molina's three RBIs rally Cardinals for 5-4 victory in first game back at Busch".
  22. "St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Affiliates". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.