JJ Wetherholt, off to a solid start to his rookie season, and the St. Louis Cardinals will look to bounce back on Tuesday after dropping the opener of a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins.
The 23-year-old second baseman, who went 0-for-3 in a 5-3 loss on Monday, is hitting .228 with three homers, 11 RBIs, four steals and a .730 OPS in 22 games.
The Cardinals’ first-round pick, seventh overall, in 2024, Wetherholt mostly played shortstop in the minor leagues but moved to second base because the Cardinals have a Gold Glove winner at his position, Masyn Winn.
Still, Wetherholt has above-average tools in terms of his speed, arm, power and hitting, and he has earned the trust of Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.
“He’s been very steady, regardless of what the night before looked like,” Marmol said. “Positive or negative, he’s the same guy every day.”
On Tuesday, Wetherholt will try to support Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (2-2, 6.98 ERA).
May, a 28-year-old right-hander, is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA in four career starts against Miami.
The Cardinals signed as a free agent May in December, giving him a one-year, $12.5 million contract. St. Louis is 2-2 when starting May, but that includes wins in his past two appearances, when he allowed just four runs, three earned, in 12 innings. His first two outings for his new club were forgettable, as he permitted 13 runs on 17 hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Miami will counter with right-hander Chris Paddack (0-3, 5.59 ERA). Paddack is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis, but he has only totaled 13 2/3 innings in those games. He hasn’t faced the Cardinals since 2021.
Last season, Paddack pitched for the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, posting a 5-12 record and a 5.35 ERA, and he is off to another slow start.
As Miami’s only starting pitcher with an ERA over 4.50, he could be in danger of losing his spot in the rotation unless he can turn things around. Miami’s top two prospects, minor league left-handers Thomas White and Robby Snelling, are only a phone call away.
In the meantime, Paddack on Tuesday will try to stop Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, who is on a 15-game hitting streak, two shy of his career high of 17 set as a rookie in 2023.
Despite Walker’s hit, walk and two runs on Monday, the Marlins prevailed to end the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak.
Miami manager Clayton McCullough praised shortstop Otto Lopez and designated hitter Liam Hicks following the game. Lopez hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning and scored twice, and Hicks finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
“Otto continues to come through,” McCullough said. “Liam continues to come through. We’re getting offensive contributions from a lot of guys.”
Lopez has a .945 OPS, and Hicks’ OPS is .929. Second baseman Xavier Edwards also is doing well, posting a .905 OPS.
“X driving the ball the other way is a very good sign,” McCullough said of Edwards. “He’s giving us a high level of professional at-bats.”
–Field Level Media
