Cardinals Rookie Wetherholt Leads Charge as St. Louis Looks to Sweep Rays

Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt has made an immediate impact, helping the Cardinals to a 2-0 start against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:20pm

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Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt has gotten off to a hot start for the St. Louis Cardinals, homering in the season opener and delivering a game-winning single in the 10th inning on Saturday. The Cardinals will go for the sweep on Sunday, sending free agent acquisition Dustin May to the mound against the Rays' Steven Matz.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are relying on their youth movement to start the season strong, with Wetherholt leading the charge. At 27.3 years old, St. Louis has the youngest roster in baseball, and their ability to get contributions from young players like Wetherholt will be key to their success this season.

The details

Wetherholt homered in the Cardinals' 9-7 season-opening win and then singled in two runs in the 10th inning on Saturday to give St. Louis a 6-5 victory. He also made a highlight-reel catch in the field to preserve a no-hit bid. The Cardinals rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the sixth inning on Thursday to win their opener, showing the resiliency of this young squad.

  • The Cardinals will go for the sweep on Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • Wetherholt homered in the Cardinals' season opener on Thursday, March 27, 2026.
  • Wetherholt delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th inning on Saturday, March 29, 2026.

The players

JJ Wetherholt

A rookie second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals who has gotten off to a hot start, homering in the season opener and delivering a game-winning hit in the 10th inning on Saturday.

Dustin May

A 28-year-old right-handed pitcher who the Cardinals signed as a free agent in the offseason. May is making his first start for St. Louis after missing all of 2024 due to a torn esophagus and flexor tendon surgery in 2023.

Steven Matz

The left-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, who is coming off a solid spring training and will face the Cardinals on Sunday.

Victor Scott II

A Cardinals player who set up Wetherholt's game-winning hit on Saturday with a sacrifice bunt.

Nathan Church

A Cardinals player who scored the winning run on Wetherholt's hit in the 10th inning on Saturday.

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What they’re saying

“I just went up there ready to hit. Anything to help the team. I was just trying to drown out the noise.”

— JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals Second Baseman

“I have seen him do it a thousand times. He put us in a really good spot. We are really trying to get to work early here.”

— JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals Second Baseman

“He has been super efficient, really fills up the strike zone. He has some deceptiveness and he really controls the run game well. He looks to get early outs. I am very encouraged by his overall spring.”

— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

What’s next

The Cardinals will look to complete the sweep of the Rays on Sunday, March 30, 2026 when they send Dustin May to the mound against Steven Matz.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' youth movement is off to a strong start, with rookie JJ Wetherholt leading the charge. If St. Louis can continue to get contributions from its young core, they could be a team to watch in the NL Central this season.