Motte earns third win Monday: The Cardinals asked closer Jason Motte to get the final out in the eighth inning on Monday night against the Padres. Motte entered and immediately allowed the Padres to take a 3-2 lead in the eighth after giving up a two-run double for his second blown save in three chances. He then retired the final batter of the top of the inning. The Cardinals then took a lead off a Tyler Greene two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth. Motte pitched the ninth and earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the year. He allowed one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Motte's ERA is at 2.12 on the year. (Updated 05/21/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Motte has blown two saves in his last three appearances, but picked up wins each time. Motte has recorded seven saves in nine chances for the Cardinals as the team closer this year. He has allowed just one earned run in his last nine appearances and has become a very solid option in most mixed Fantasy leagues. (Updated 05/21/2012).
05/17/2012 01:12 Garcia helps Cardinals clip Giants
Jaime Garcia matched his career high with nine strikeouts, David Freese hit a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals gave manager Mike Matheny a victory against his old Giants team with a 4-1 win Wednesday night.
05/15/2012 16:51 Molina, Cards top Cubs via walk-off
Yadier Molina hit an RBI single off Cubs closer Rafael Dolis with two outs in the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 Tuesday, avoiding a sweep and an 0-5 homestand.
05/14/2012 11:20 Stock Watch: Hamilton's up, but so is Inge while Pujols plummets
You don't have be an inside trader to know Josh Hamilton is red hot. And now that he's in Oakland, the same goes for Brandon Inge. Jon Heyman also examines the continuing free-fall of $240-million man Albert Pujols.
05/09/2012 12:27 Dear Mr. Fantasy: New world order for closers
The relief pitching landscape sure has changed on a dime since opening day. Who are the right replacements to target? Our Scott White re-ranks his top closer options and answers your questions in Dear Mr. Fantasy.
05/07/2012 12:09 Stock Watch: Cubs' first baseman LaHair a revelation so far
Bryan LaHair is on fire and Jon Heyman says it looks like the Cubs' 29-year-old first baseman, after finally getting his first real big-league shot, is no fluke. Elsewhere, Clay Buchholz and Heath Bell could sure use a spark.
Jason Motte became the solution for the Cardinals' closer problems last season and enters 2012 as the ninth-inning man in St. Louis. He earned his first save on Aug. 28 and went 9 for 10 in save chances down the stretch. He finished the campaign with a 2.25 ERA in 78 appearances and also posted a 63-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 68 innings pitched. The right-hander has a 2.24 ERA over the last two seasons and should be able to thrive as the closer from Day 1. The Cardinals will likely be in some closer games with Albert Pujols no longer in the fray, which should equal plenty of save chances for Motte. While he is not as proven as some of the other closers out there, Motte should be productive enough to be considered a No. 2 Fantasy RP in mixed leagues on Draft Day. (Updated 1/30/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start