Fantasy News

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire Mar 23, 2024

  The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday. Baker was never able to get his bat going this spring, tallying nine hits in 44 at-bats while striking out 13 times. Baker slashed .334/.439/.720 with 33 homers and 98 RBI in Triple-A last season, and if he's able to find his swing again in the minors, he may return to the Cardinals' bench at some point this summer.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Too many strikeouts in spring

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2024

  Baker has gone 7-for-32 with four RBI, 11 strikeouts and three walks over 16 Grapefruit League games. Baker struck out a 31.3 percent rate over 99 plate appearances toward the tail end of 2023. The 27-year-old has a strong power profile after slugging 33 home runs over 84 contests with Triple-A Memphis, but there's no clear path to a starting job in the majors with Paul Goldschmidt locked in at first base and Nolan Gorman likely to be the designated hitter. In terms of a competition for a bench role, Alec Burleson's strong spring and his ability to be an option in the outfield put him comfortably ahead of Baker or any number of other options to back up at first base.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Lifts second homer

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Baker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 12-2 loss to the Padres. Baker produced the Cardinals' lone scoring play with his seventh-inning blast. He's seen steadier playing time over the last week, going 4-for-17 (.235) over his last six games. The 26-year-old is batting .217 with two homers, seven RBI, six runs scored and a double across 76 plate appearances in the majors this year. With the Cardinals in last in the NL Central, he'll likely get some more at-bats over the final week of the campaign as part of the evaluation for next season's roster.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Gets start in DH role

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Baker will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday versus the Brewers. The 26-year-old should see an uptick in playing time over what remains of the 2023 regular season with Alec Burleson (thumb) joining Nolan Gorman (hamstring) on the injured list. Baker has gone 12-for-56 (.214) with 22 strikeouts through his first 22 games at the MLB level, but he was slashing .334/.440/.720 with 33 homers and 98 RBI in 84 games for Triple-A Memphis prior to being recalled in mid-August.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Sitting versus lefty

  Rotowire Aug 21, 2023

  Baker is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Midwest reports. Baker has started just four of nine games since his recall and has now not been in the lineup three times in five contests versus southpaws over that time. The minor league's home run leader this season with 33 dingers, Baker has struggled during his few chances in the majors and the Cardinals don't seem terribly interested in giving him a longer look.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Recalled from Memphis

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  The Cardinals recalled Baker from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday. With Dylan Carlson (oblique) headed for the 10-day IL, Baker will come up from the minors to give St. Louis an additional bench bat. The 26-year-old first baseman is 5-for-19 in the majors this season and boasts a .334/.439/.720 slash line through 380 plate appearances in the minors.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Sent down Sunday

  Rotowire Jul 16, 2023

  The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Baker hasn't appeared in a game since July 5. He will get regular at-bats again at Memphis, where he's crushed to the tune of a .319/.433/.664 slash line and 22 homers in 64 games this season. His path to playing time is complicated by his defensive limitations, though Baker figures to get another opportunity before the end of the season, perhaps shortly after the trade deadline.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Summoned from Triple-A

  Rotowire Jul 3, 2023

  The Cardinals recalled Baker from Triple-A Memphis on Monday. He'll serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Monday's series opener in Miami. Baker was up with the Cardinals for a couple weeks last month but played sparingly, with most of his limited opportunities coming against left-handed pitching. St. Louis is slated to face a few southpaws this week, so he could see a handful of starts before the All-Star break.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Cardinals' Luken Baker: Heads to COVID-19 IL

  Rotowire Aug 10, 2021

  Double-A Springfield placed Baker on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday. Springfield is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak among its roster, as six players were placed on the injured list Tuesday. The affiliate hasn't announced whether Baker's placement on the IL is the result of him testing positive for the coronavirus, or if he was merely identified as a close contact of an infected person or persons. Over 78 games with Springfield this season, Baker is slashing .247/.327/.545 with 23 home runs and 60 RBI.

  ... See More ... See Less