Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Result: Nationals 1, Cardinals 0
Weather: Cloudy, 64 degrees
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – With just a few days left in spring training, the Cardinals are getting close to finalizing the last remaining spots in their bullpen.
Two pitchers who appear to be close to locking up two of those spots, George Soriano and Justin Bruihl, were on the mound in the loss to the Nationals on Tuesday in West Palm Beach.
Soriano was acquired from the Nationals early in spring training for Andre Granillo. His scoreless inning on Wednesday came in his sixth appearance of the spring and he has only allowed one unearned run, has not walked a batter and struck out eight.
Bruihl also worked a scoreless inning, pitching around a walk. Three of the four runs he has allowed in 6 2/3 innings came in one appearance against the Mets, but over his last five innings he has walked one and struck out five.
Bruihl, whom the Cardinals acquired from the Guardians for cash in early January, would be the second lefthander in the bullpen behind JoJo Romero.
If Soriano is in the bullpen as well, joining Riley O’Brien, Matt Svanson and Ryne Stanek, there would be only one more opening in the group of seven relievers. Other relievers still in camp are Chris Roycroft, Matt Pushard, a Rule 5 selection from Miami, Scott Blewett and Gordon Graceffo, who is expected back in camp on Wednesday after he has been on team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
Here is how Tuesday’s game broke down:
High: Victor Scott II stole his fifth base of the spring.
Low: The Cardinals had only four hits, all singles, in getting shut out for the first time this spring.
At the plate: JJ Wetherholt was back in the leadoff spot, and playing shortstop with Masyn Winn getting the day off, but he was hitless in three at-bats … Jordan Walker was in the lineup for the first time since March 12, but was 0-of-4 with two strikeouts … Alec Burleson was 0-of-3 and also struck out twice … The Cardinals had only two at-bats with a runner in scoring position.
On the mound: The only run of the game came off Dustin May in the first inning when he walked the leadoff hitter and gave up a double with two outs … May worked five innings, throwing 81 pitches … In addition to the scoreless innings from Soriano and Bruihl, Scott Blewett worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Worth noting: Michael McGreevy got in his work by pitching in a minor-league game in Jupiter … The Cardinals have not announced that Matthew Liberatore will be their opening day starter, but his last start of the spring is scheduled for Saturday which would line him up for the March 26 opener against Tampa Bay at Busch Stadium … Ivan Herrera caught a bullpen session on Wednesday and is scheduled to catch three innings in Thursday’s game … Thomas Saggese, who also has been away from the Cardinals camp since March 1 while playing for Italy in the WBC, also is expected back in camp on Wednesday … Former Cardinal So Taguchi was a visitor to camp on Tuesday as part of a Japanese television crew.
Up next: The Cardinals have five games left in Florida before heading north. They will host the Astros on Wednesday in Jupiter.
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