PITTSBURGH — When presumptive National League Rookie of the Year favorite Paul Skenes faces the Cardinals on his turf for the first time Tuesday, that first pitch he delivers likely will be to one of the few players who even pose a challenge to him for that honor.
What’s made Masyn Winn the Cardinals’ everyday leadoff hitter are some of the same traits that make him one of the leading rookies in the majors.
“It’s just a gritty at-bat,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “You’re not going to punch him out very often. He’s going to put it in play. He’s going to use the whole field. He’s going to back it up with two strikes. He’s doing everything that a pitcher doesn’t want to have to face to start the game.”
Off to an unbeaten start to his career, Skenes has added all the ornaments of an obvious Rookie of the Year leader. Twelve months after being the No. 1 selection in the MLB draft, he was the fifth rookie to start an All-Star Game. He’ll take a 6-0 record and 1.90 ERA into his start against the Cardinals on Tuesday at PNC Park, his first start sine the All-Star Game a week earlier. One of his five no-decisions came at Busch Stadium in June. Twice, he’s taken a no-hitter through six innings. Four times he’s struck out at least nine.
On the pitching side of NL rookies, Skenes is closing the gap on the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga and Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two experienced pitchers who came to the majors for this season from Japan’s top league. His ERA is the lowest of any rookie with at least 50 innings, he trails only Imanaga (8) and LA’s Gavin Stone (9) in wins, and Skenes’ 1.9 wins above replacement is speeding toward Imanaga (2.5) and Yamamoto (2.2).
Winn’s 2.4 WAR through the weekend led all NL rookie position players and was tied for the best in the majors among rookie position players. He trailed only Imanaga overall. The Cardinals’ 22-year-old shortstop was just ahead of San Diego’s All-Star rookie Jackson Merrill (2.0) and the Cubs’ 12-homer rookie Michael Busch (2.2) — either of whom, like Winn, could take a charge at Skenes’ claim with a strong finish.
Heading into Monday’s games, Winn’s .287 average led all NL rookies who play regularly, and his .751 OPS ranked third among eligible rookies in the NL. While his role at leadoff and production there aids his candidacy, it’s on defense where he might become among the most decorated rookie.
In his first year in the majors, Winn has a strong claim to a Gold Glove Award. Through the weekend, he led all NL shortstops in one of the advanced metrics used to determine the award, presented annually by Ƶ-based Rawlings. Also, Winn’s 13 defensive runs saved were the most for any shortstop in the majors and is tied for the most at any positions and any players, not just rookies.
Fewer than 100 games into his major league career, Winn vaulted into one of the most prominent pair of roles for the Cardinals — the centerpiece of their defense and the ignition switch for their lineup. His move to No. 1 corresponded with the Cardinals’ rise in the standings. Through the weekend he was hitting .294 in July with 20 hits. The Cardinals were 22-14 in his past 36 starts at leadoff.
“You don’t do that unless that player is very mentally strong,” Marmol said. “Because if it doesn’t work, and he’s not mentally strong, then you may lose him for the remaining part of that year by having to move him out of that spot. You remove him — we knew that was a possibility — and even if had to do it he’s mentally strong enough to handle it. ... I think his approach is allowing for that (success), yeah. He’s committed to not trying to do too much. Shortens the amount of time that you have bad games, bad weeks. His approach has allowed him to just be steady.”
The Cardinals’ second-round pick in the 2020 draft, Winn spent 37 games in the majors last season — just enough to get experience before becoming the starter and just enough to remain eligible for the Rookie of the Year award this year. (The Cardinals monitored to make sure.) Marmol and other Cardinals already have predicted future Gold Glove awards (plural) for Winn and an All-Star appearance. They’ve put him in position to at least take a run at the one honor a player only gets one full season in his career to win.
“I think he’s been extremely consistent for being up here in his first year,” Marmol said. “He’s committed to not veering from it, and we’re seeing a very, very consistent Masyn Winn. We’re not surprised that he’s able to do what he’s done up to this point.”
Sox’s Crochet braced for trade rumors
One of the starting pitchers who already has drawn interest from teams looking to trade, White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet said he’s aware of what awaits him in the next few weeks.
“I hear it. I watch TV,” the lefty said last week while representing the Sox at the All-Star Game. “I have an iPhone. I definitely see that sort of thing.”
Crochet, a 25-year-old lefty, is 6-6 with a 3.02 ERA this season and 150 strikeouts in 107⅓ innings. The All-Star comes complete with two more years of contract control and gives the foundering White Sox their biggest talent to turn into future contributors. He might be the most coveted starter available in a market so few clear sellers. San Diego has reportedly already made an overture for the lefty.
As the July 30 trade deadline approaches, the Cardinals plan to explore the market for available starters and potential upgrades to their rotation. It’s unclear if they’d be willing to meet the cost of Crochet. But his teammate in the Sox rotation, right-hander Erick Fedde, offers another option the Cardinals have interest in discussing. Fedde is signed through 2025 and had a 2.99 ERA at the All-Star break with 99 strikeouts in 111⅓ innings.
Crochet said he and Fedde recently talked about what trade interest could mean — and how to view the speculation.
“Even when you’re taking the field in spring training you’re not necessarily a trade candidate then but you’re always kind of playing for the other 29 teams in the league,” Crochet said. “Every time you take the field — or even when you don’t take it –everybody is kind of watching. I just keep carrying on, business as usual. … It’s really flattering.”
Edman set to resume rehab
Switch-hitter Tommy Edman will return to Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday to work out with the Cardinals’ Class AA affiliate and rejoin its lineup Wednesday. Edman missed nearly two weeks of his rehab assignment to rest and address soreness in his ankle. He’ll run the bases, take ground balls and participate in batting practice with the S-Cardinals on Tuesday before starting at designated hitter Wednesday.
Edman has yet to play in a major-league game this season following offseason surgery to repair damage and remove loose bodies from the right wrist. He has yet to play the field in any of his rehab appearances. The Cardinals would like to get him innings in center field and shortstop at least before returning to the majors.
Draft signings, etc.
The Cardinals finalized deals with two more of their 19 draft picks: fifth-rounder Braden Davis, a lefty out of Oklahoma, and seventh-rounder Andrew Dutkanych IV, a right-hander from Vanderbilt. The Cardinals plan to finalize their $6.9-million deal with first-round pick JJ Wetherholt this week. They have 14 picks in the week since the draft.
Riley O’Brien (flexor tendon) is scheduled to throw an inning Tuesday night for Class AAA Memphis as his rehab assignment continues.
- The Cardinals entered Monday night’s game with a .285 batting average in July as a team. That is the highest for the month since the 2004 club, which is set to be honored this weekend, hit .296 in July of that season.