Here is a look at who's hot and who's not for the Cardinals:
TRENDING UP
Matt Adams, 1B: In his third start since returning from the disabled list, he went 1 for 4 with a RBI single. He finished 4 for 13 with two homers and four RBIs playing in Pittsburgh in front of family and friends -- and he also did an impressive job in the field. Between injuries and long stretches of pinch-hitting duty, Adams is batting .351 with runners in scoring position this season.
Randal Grichuk, OF: He played smaller ball Wednesday, reaching base three times (two singles, hit by pitch) and stealing one base in two tries. He scored a run and drove in a run to largely account for his team's offense. He has hit safely in 19 of his first 24 games since returning from his second demotion to Memphis.
Alex Reyes, RP: Back in the bullpen where he can help the Cardinals the most, he delivered 3 2/3 crucial innings. Hot-hitting Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang smacked a solo homer to tag him with a hard-luck loss, but otherwise Reyes struck out six batters and walked nobody during a dominant performance. He is 1-1 with a 1.52 ERA and 30 strikeouts in his first 23 2/3 big league innings.
Jhonny Peralta, INF: He perked up at PNC Park this week, going 4 for 9 with a double, a homer and three RBIs in two starts and one pinch-hitting appearance. Those were his first multi-hit games since Aug. 24. They were timely, too, with injured shortstop Aledmys Diaz about to rejoin the Cardinals and create more competition for at bats.
Stephen Piscotty, OF: He went 3 for 8 with a walk, two doubles and two RBIs in Pittsburgh, shaking off an dangerous hit-by-pitch in the process. After scuffling through a 3-for-23 stretch, Piscotty has gone 6 for 16 in his last five games to restore order at the plate.
TRENDING DOWN
Brandon Moss, OF-1B: He was the rally-killer Wednesday night, going 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position and 0 for 4 overall with two more strikeouts. He suffered a hitless road trip while sinking into a deep 1-for-33 offensive funk.
Tommy Pham, OF: He came off the bench to make another out pinch-hitting against the Pirates, extending his hitless streak to 18 at bats. He could use a few starts to get his stroke back but such opportunities could be scarce with the team getting healthier.
Mike Leake, SP: He is back to active duty but not back to 100 percent after recovering from his bout with the shingles. He allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk while lasting just 4 1/3 innings in his return to the starting rotation. He failed to help himself with his bat, going 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position.
Jeff Gordon • 314-340-8175
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