WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson and Victor Scott II combined to put on a show, offensively and defensively, that should only stoke the flames of debate about the roster decisions ahead as spring training winds down.
Carlson collected two hits, including a grand slam, while Scott walked, scored a run and stole a home run away from Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams with an dazzling leaping catch at the wall in center field.
“You have two good players playing hard and showcasing what they’re capable of doing and how they add value to a team,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “So for me, that’s exciting for the organization. Forget competition for camp. That is a ton of value for our org.â€
The Cardinals broke open the game with a seven-run fourth inning on their way to a 13-4 win over the Nationals in a Grapefruit League spring training exhibition game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Wednesday night. The Cardinals improved to 11-10-4 this spring, and reliever Ryan Helsley earned his first win of the spring.
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Carlson, who has spent parts of the past four seasons with the Cardinals, and Scott, a highly-regarded prospect who stole 94 bases and won a Gold Glove as the best defensive center fielder in the minors last year, continue to jockey for position in an outfield that will be without starting center fielder Tommy Edman (recovering from wrist surgery) and likely without left fielder Lar Nootbaar (fractured ribs) to start the season.
“They’re both bringing value to a needed part of our org, so this is great,†Marmol said of Carlson and Scott. “A really good from both of them today. That catch was unreal. The timing of it, how quickly he got to the wall in order to time it up. There’s still a calmness to it.â€
Following a slow start to spring training that included just one hit in his first 12 at-bats, Carlson has gone on a recent tear that has produced five hits, four extra-base hits including two home runs, and nine RBIs in his past three games. That included a 2-for-4 performance in Wednesday night’s win against the Nationals highlighted the grand slam that powered the seven-run fourth inning.
Since the start of March, Carlson has batted .333 with a .385 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage in 36 at-bats. Both of Carlson’s hits against the Nationals on Wednesday came while batting left-handed. A switch hitter, Carlson’s production has lagged significantly while batting left-handed in the majors.
“We’re starting to see the transition from just the cage to BP to how he competed in the game,†Marmol said. “That is exactly what we’re talking about when it comes to the intent of the swing, actually getting to a strong position. He’s doing it, and it looks really good. I’m super proud of the work he’s put in, and then starting to see some of the pay off.â€
Scott, who drew a two-out walk in the fourth inning to bring Carlson to the plate, has posted a .409 on-base percentage and batted .316 in his first big-league camp.
Cardinals infielder Jose Fermin also had two hits, including a home run of his own, while Alec Burleson (2 for 3), Cesar Prieto (3 for 5) and Matt Carpenter (2 for 2) also had multi-hit games.
Cardinals starting pitcher Steven Matz allowed three runs on six hits, including a home run, in four innings. He also struck out three.
From earlier …
Steven Matz and the Cardinals clash with the Nationals in a spring training night game
Left-handed starting pitcher Steven Matz will make his third start of the Grapefruit League season when the Cardinals travel to West Palm Beach to take on the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Wednesday night.
Matz, who also made a one-inning relief appearance this spring, pitched three innings in his previous start against the Miami Marlins on March 15. In his last start, he allowed three runs on four hits, including one home run, and two walks in three innings. He also struck out four.
The Cardinals have purposefully progressed Matz slowly this spring in an effort to control his ramp up for the season and keep him as healthy as possible. Injuries interrupted Matz’s first season with the club in 2022, and he finished last season on the IL with a lat strain.
Prior to the injury that curtailed his season last summer, Matz had bounced back from early struggle and a demotion to the bullpen to deliver his best stretch with the Cardinals (4-0 with an 1.86 ERA in seven starts).
So far in six innings over the course of three exhibition game appearances this spring, Matz has allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks. He hit one batter and struck out eight.
Matz will throw to starting catcher Willson Contreras. Contreras has caught two of Matz’s three previous outings.
At the plate, Contreras has gone 4 for 10 with a double, three RBIs, three walks and two runs scored in his last four games. He’ll bat in the cleanup spot in the order against the Nationals behind left-handed hitting veteran Matt Carpenter.
Here’s tonight’s lineup against the Nationals:
1. Victor Scott II, CF
2. Dylan Carlson, RF
3. Matt Carpenter, DH
4. Willson Contreras, C
5. Alec Burleson, LF
6. Thomas Saggese, 3B
7. Alfonso Rivas III, 1B
8. Jose Fermin, SS
9. Cesar Prieto, 2B
Pitcher: Steven Matz (LHP). Also listed as available out of the bullpen: RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Giovanny Gallegos, RHP Chris Roycroft, RHP Hancel Rincon, RHP Gastelum, RHP Trent Baker.