It remains to be seen who will close out games for the St. Louis Cardinals after the team traded both closer Ryan Helsley and left-hander Steven Matz on Wednesday. The Athletic's Katie Woo writes that pitching prospect Gordon Graceffo, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, looks to be an early contending for save chance. Woo adds that both Kyle Leahy and Riley O'Brien could get a shot, too, and the Cardinals could elect to go with a committee approach the rest of the year as they shift their focus to development in 2026 and beyond. Ryan Fernandez is a name to watch for a potentiall call-up after he was a big member of last year's bullpen but was sent to Memphis after struggling in April. He's gone 4-1 with a 3.12 ERA and 12.7 K/9 in 29 appearances on the farm. If they aren't traded by Thursday's deadline, Phil Maton and ... [More]

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitching prospect Gordon Graceffo was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. Left-handed reliever John King was placed on the 15-day IL with a strained oblique as the corresponding move. Graceffo has had a solid season at Triple-A as a starter and reliever, with a 3.89 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 17.2% K-BB% in 39.1 innings. He made 13 appearances with the big league club this year and had a poor ERA at 5.11, but limited baserunners effectively with a 1.05 WHIP and had a favorable 2.69 FIP. He should be expected to take King's place in the bullpen for the time being.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Saturday that they optioned right-handed pitching prospect Gordon Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis and recalled right-hander Roddery Munoz from Memphis in a corresponding move. Graceffo will return to the farm for more seasoning after allowing 16 runs (13 earned) on 18 hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out 13 in 15 2/3 innings over nine appearances out of the bullpen in St. Louis. The 25-year-old also recorded his first career save while going 2-0. At this point, it's hard to envision the team's No. 16 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, becoming much of a fantasy asset, especially since it looks like he's destined for a relief role. The former fifth-rounder in 2021 out of Villanova was sporting a 5.71 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and five walks in his four starts for Memphis before being called up this year.

The Athletic's Katie Woo reports that the St. Louis Cardinals are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Gordon Graceffo, and he will operate out of the bullpen. Graceffo is back with the major-league club after allowing just one earned run while walking none and striking out five in five innings for his first big-league win in an outstanding spot start last Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 25-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2021 out of Villanova is the team's No. 16 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Graceffo hasn't been quite as good on the farm in four starts (17 1/3 innings) for Triple-A Memphis, though, as he's sporting a 5.71 ERA ad 1.09 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and five walks. For the time being, Graceffo will pitch in a long-relief role out of St. Louis' bullpen, which won't give him any real fantasy appeal in redraft leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Gordon Graceffo logged six innings of one-run ball on Wednesday against Triple-A Norfolk. In this outing, Graceffo allowed just two hits and served up one free pass. He struck out one. This was another strong outing for Graceffo as he allowed two runs across five innings of work in his previous start. Before this stretch, Graceffo allowed eight runs and eight hits over his first two starts of the Triple-A season. The No. 16-ranked prospect in the St. Louis system had a brief eight-inning stint in the majors earlier this season but struggled as he allowed seven runs and 10 hits. Fantasy managers should expect Graceffo to be in the mix to return to St. Louis if he continues to turn the corner at the top level of the minor leagues. However, when he does get the call, he may be deployed exclusively out of the bullpen.