Thinking back to his start against the Cubs near the end of June, Cardinals rookie Michael McGreevy felt there were some pitches he 鈥済ave in鈥 on with the idea a strike could lead to some weak contact.
In that start, McGreevy retired five of the first six batters he faced in his first two innings before he was hit for five runs in the third inning. At the time, the start represented his most troubling showing in the majors.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 stoked with the Chicago outing last time,鈥 McGreevy said. 鈥淥bviously, it was just one bad inning, but you always have to take learning lessons away from bad outings like that.鈥
The outing provided the 24-year-old with some 鈥渃onfidence鈥 in how he would approach the Cubs lineup Friday night at Busch Stadium.
The lessons aided McGreevy to turn in six scoreless innings against Chicago in the Cardinals鈥 5-0 shutout win over their National League Central division rivals. The win elevated the Cardinals, who had franchise icon Yadier Molina in uniform as guest coach in the dugout, back to a record above .500.
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Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy pitches in the second inning against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday.
鈥淚 was able to just pick up the pieces from where we left off and what went well, what didn鈥檛 go well, and was just able to just keep going with that,鈥 McGreevy said.
The Cardinals (59-58) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Jordan Walker that had a 107.9-mph exit velocity, per Statcast, and received RBIs from Ivan Herrera, Willson Contreras, and Pedro Pages in the middle innings to back McGreevy鈥檚 start.
The hard-hit ball by Walker was the one of three he put in play with an exit velocity of 107 mph or faster. The 23-year-old right fielder hit a 434-foot solo homer in the sixth inning that had a 111.7-mph exit velocity and marked his first homer since May 17. He also singled in the eighth inning on a ball that had a 111.4-mph exit velocity.
鈥淭here are certain games you can point to and today is one of them where he did exactly what you want to see,鈥 Marmol said of Walker, who is batting .318 in 18 games since returning from the injured list on July 18.
The run support from Walker鈥檚 two RBIs, RBIs from Herrera, Contreras, and Pages, and scoreless one-inning relief appearances from Matt Svanson, JoJo Romero, and Riley O鈥橞rien helped the Cardinals to their 11th shutout of the season. It was their first shutout against the Cubs at Busch Stadium since July 30, 2023.
The effort by McGreevy earned him his second career win over the Cubs and marked his first scoreless start in the majors. McGreevy鈥檚 adjustments from his June outing vs. the Cubs marked the second time this year he delivered improved results when facing a team that troubled him in a previous encounter.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what you鈥檙e looking for is how big-league guys are responding to him and then once he sees them a second time through, if there are some changes there,鈥 Marmol said of McGreevy, who allowed four runs in six innings on Saturday vs. the Padres after they hit him for a career-high seven runs in 4 2/3 innings on July 27. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited with his progress. We鈥檝e got to keep working.鈥
McGreevy flashed six pitches in his Friday start. The normally groundball-heavy righty recorded six outs on flyouts and five outs on the ground as he leaned primarily on his fastball rather than his sinker. He got four whiffs on his changeup for a 36% whiff rate with that off-speed pitch, per Statcast.
The 25-year-old worked with at least one runner on base in all but one inning as the Cubs produced nine hard-hit balls against him, one of which he could not avoid.
A 104.6-mph line drive from Pete Crow-Armstrong to lead off the second inning hit McGreevy squarely in the chest, though McGreevy remained 鈥渦nfazed,鈥 Marmol described, as he scooped up the baseball and threw to first base for the out.
鈥淭he ball is coming right at me, and my body just freezes,鈥 said McGreevy, who was visited by a team trainer after he was hit. 鈥淢y mind is thinking at 1,000 words per second, and I鈥檓 like, 鈥極h my gosh, here comes the ball.鈥 Like, 鈥楧ude, move, move, move.鈥 Like, 鈥楥atch it.鈥 By that time, I just didn鈥檛 move.
鈥淚 was watching it in slow (motion)... It hit me right here, right under the Nike sign right here,鈥 said McGreevy, who pointed to the logo on center of the shirt he wore postgame. 鈥淚t just ricocheted right to me. I鈥檓 like, 鈥榃ell, I鈥檝e got to get an out. 鈥 In the later innings, I was getting a little like, 鈥極h, okay. Now I鈥檓 starting to feel it.鈥 The adrenaline wears off. But, all good. Glory to God that everything is fine.鈥
During the fifth inning, McGreevy demonstrated 鈥減oise鈥 when a walk to Nico Hoerner and a single by Dansby Swanson put runners on first and second base with no outs for leadoff hitter Michael Busch as Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker were set to follow.
McGreevy struck out Busch swinging on a changeup that got the lefty to chase. He got Suzuki, who entered the series opener with an .831 OPS, to pop out and got Kyle Tucker, the NL鈥檚 starting left fielder in this year鈥檚 All-Star game, to fly out to end the scoring threat.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been able to do that quite a bit. He doesn鈥檛 get sped up,鈥 Marmol said of the rookie. 鈥淓ven the line drive. 鈥 There鈥檚 just a steadiness to him. A poise, especially at his age, which is a really good trait. He鈥檚 the same guy regardless of what鈥檚 going on.鈥
Post-Dispatch columnist Lynn Worthy joins Jeff Gordon to discuss the Cardinals' post-deadline changes.
果酱视频 Cardinals shutout Chicago Cubs, 5-0
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras flips his bat to the side and screams in celebration to the bench after he hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth ining during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after hammering a homer in the sixth inning against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Willson Contreras is seen behind Walker.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina, left, and first base coach Stubby Clapp in the dugout before a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina talks with players and coaches in the dugout before a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cubs fans sporting their team鈥檚 jersey pepper the centerfield bleachers during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals center fielder Garrett Hampson hits into a double play with the bases loaded to end second inning during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy pitches in the first inning against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy pitches in the second inning against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn has a seat on the bench as manager Oliver Marmol talks with him after he was tagged out at home in the eighth inning during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn looks out from the dugout after being tagged out at home in the eighth inning during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien pitches in the ninth inning during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero pitches the eighth inning during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages fist bumps relief pitcher Matt Svanson after he completed the seventh inning during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina acknowledges the cheers of the crowd as he takes out the lineup cards before a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina talks with members of the media on the field before a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina talks with members of the media on the field before a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina talks with members of the media on the field before a game againust the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina walks toward the locker room after talking with people on the field before a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Also pictured to the right is Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol shakes with people in the dugout after the Cardinals won a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina watches the action from the bench in the dugout during a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina talks with manager Oliver Marmol in the dugout before the start of a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina (4) lines up with the other Cardinals coaches during the National Anthem before a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Chicago Cubs vs 果酱视频 Cardinals, Friday

果酱视频 Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina (4) lines up with the other Cardinals coaches during the National Anthem before a game between the Chicago Cubs and 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Cardinals 5, Cubs 0
Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Busch 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .264
Suzuki dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 .251
Tucker rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .272
Happ lf 4 0 2 0 0 2 .232
Crow-Armstng cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Kelly c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .268
Castro 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .167
Hoerner 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .292
Swanson ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 .245
Totals 34 0 7 0 1 6
果酱视频 AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Donovan 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .278
Herrera dh 3 0 0 1 0 1 .301
Contreras 1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .259
Burleson lf 4 1 3 0 0 1 .285
Scott cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
Winn ss 4 0 2 0 0 1 .272
Walker rf 4 1 3 2 0 0 .240
Saggese 3b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .239
Pag茅s c 4 1 2 1 0 1 .210
Hampson cf-lf 3 1 0 0 0 0 .125
Totals 32 5 13 5 1 5
Chicago 000 000 000 鈥 0 7 0
果酱视频 010 022 00x 鈥 5 13 0
LOB: Chicago 9, 果酱视频 7. 2B: Winn (25), Saggese (8). HR: Walker (4), off Brasier. RBIs: Walker 2 (31), Herrera (42), Contreras (65), Pag茅s (33). SF: Herrera. S: Hampson, Donovan. DP: Chicago 1.
Chicago IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Boyd, L, 11-5 5 7 3 3 0 3 2.45
Brasier 1 3 2 2 0 2 3.91
Pearson 2 3 0 0 1 0 9.20
果酱视频 IP H R ER BB SO ERA
McGreevy, W 4-2 6 6 0 0 1 3 4.40
Svanson 1 1 0 0 0 2 2.67
Romero 1 0 0 0 0 1 2.04
O鈥橞rien 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.78
Inherited runners-scored: Romero 1-0. HBP: Romero (Tucker).
T: 2:42. Att.: 33,453.