Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Result: Nationals 3, Cardinals 1
Weather: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman have played long enough to know that there is more to what happens in spring training than the results that are measured only in the box score.
Those numbers, have not been as good as either would have hoped for so far this spring.
Each had a hit in three at-bats on Wednesday, with Gorman’s single driving in the Cardinals only run in a loss to the Nationals in West Palm Beach.
Those hits left Gorman with a .160 average so far this spring while Walker is hitting .231. Gorman does have two homers but Walker’s six hits have all been singles and he has more strikeouts, eight, in 26 at-bats than he has hits.
Gorman will get a long run at third base this season following the trade that sent Nolan Arenado to the Diamondbacks and Walker is projected to be the starting right fielder.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
High: Dustin May had another solid start, allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings.
Low: The offense again managed only three hits through the first eight innings.
At the plate: Masyn Winn was 0-of-3, dropping his spring average to .158 … JJ Weatherholt reached base twice without a hit, drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch. He also stole his second base of the spring … Six players in the lineup are projected to be starting on opening day and they were a combined 2-of-15 … The team was a combined 2-of-10 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound: May had to come out of the game after allowing one run on a walk and a double in the first inning but he re-entered the game and threw three more scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out three … Matt Svanson pitched around two hits to work a scoreless inning, and Ryan Fernandez allowed one hit but no runs in his inning of work … The Nationals broke a 1-1 tie with two runs off Gerson Moreno in the eighth inning.
Worth noting: The Cardinals announced that Winn’s contract has been renewed by the club after the two sides failed to come to an agreement. The other 28 pre-arbitration players all agreed to terms … The team also announced that 12 members of the team’s Hall of Fame are expected to be in attendance for opening day on March 26 at Busch Stadium. The 12 are Ozzie Smith, Edgar Rentería, Tony La Russa, Ray Lankford, Ted Simmons, Vince Coleman, John Tudor, Jason Isringhausen, Willie McGee, Mark McGwire, Al Hrabosky, and Scott Rolen.
Up next: The Cardinals return to Jupiter on Thursday to host the Mets. Michael McGreevy will get the start.
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