Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Saturday, March 21, 2026
Result: Cardinals 7, Marlins 4
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – As manager Oli Marmol had predicted several days ago, the battle to see who will be the Cardinals’ starting left fielder literally is going down to the final day of spring training.
The team will break camp after Sunday’s game, and both Nelson Velazquez and Thomas Saggese did their best on Saturday to strengthen their bids for the job.
Velazquez had two more hits in three at-bats, raising his spring average to .357, while Saggese got the start in left field and also had two hits, including his first homer of the spring. Velazquez, who is not on the 40-man roster, started in right field.
Two other candidates for the job are Nathan Church, who did not play on Saturday, and Jose Fermin, who started in center field and was 0-of-2 but did drive in a run.
The Cardinals did confirm that Lars Nootbaar, who has been out for all of spring training while recovering from off-season surgery on both heels, will open the season on the injured list.
Here is how Saturday’s game broke down:
High: Alec Burleson had two more hits and drove in two runs, raising his spring average to .343.
Low: Pedro Pages was hitless in three at-bats, striking out once, as his spring average fell to .129.
At the plate: Victor Scott II started in the leadoff spot while Masyn Winn hit second. Each had a hit in three at-bats and Scott stole his sixth base of the spring while Winn also drew a walk … Nolan Gorman had a hit and walked in his two plate appearances, scoring a pair of runs.
On the mound: Minor-league Mason Molina, acquired from Texas last summer, got the start as the Cardinals lined up their starting rotation to begin the season. Molina, a left-hander who finished last season at Peoria, allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings, giving up two home runs … The only major-leaguer used in the game was Matt Pushard, who worked two scoreless innings.
Worth noting: The Cardinals set the order of the rotation to begin the season. After Matthew Liberatore starts on opening day, Michael McGreevy and Dustin May will face the Rays in the final two games of the series, then Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante will start the first two games against the Mets … Gordon Graceffo was optioned to Memphis, meaning Pushard, a Rule 5 selection from the Marlins, will be in the bullpen to start the season along with Chris Roycroft and George Soriano … The Cardinals still need to trim eight players from their spring roster before opening day.
Up next: The final game in Florida on Sunday will be against the Astros in West Palm Beach, with McGreevy getting the start. May will start the exhibition game on Monday in Springfield against the Double A team.
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