Standout #3- Oliver Marmol<\/a><\/h3>\nWe are giving the skipper a nod on this week’s Cardinals’ standouts list. Oliver Marmol is in his sixth season as the Cardinals\u2019 manager, but there have been more downs than ups. This season has been different, however. The team is exceeding expectations, with young players like JJ Wetherholt<\/a> and Jordan Walker<\/a> leading the way.<\/p>\n<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\nMarmol is the front-runner for the National League\u2019s \u201cManager of the Year\u201d award, but he has already received an honor. Marmol announced on Sunday that Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 manager Dave Roberts<\/a> has invited him to join his coaching staff for the All-Star Game next month in Philadelphia. Marmol expressed his excitement<\/a> to reporters:<\/p>\n\u201cAs a kid, you grow up watching the Home Run Derby, and you watch the All-Star Game, just all the festivities and everything that goes into it. All the best players in the world, all in one place at the same time, man. So it\u2019s cool to be invited and be able to represent the organization and our families in that type of environment. That\u2019s what I\u2019m looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s success this season, combined with the honor of representing the team at the All-Star Game, makes Marmol a clear candidate for this week\u2019s Cardinals\u2019 standouts installment.<\/p>\n
Standout #2- Riley O’Brien<\/a><\/h3>\nRiley O’Brien made three appearances this past week. His first came on Tuesday against the Rangers. O\u2019Brien entered the game in the ninth inning with the score tied, 4-4. Unfortunately, O\u2019Brien struggled, giving up three runs and earning the loss. His rough outing was just another layer on a frustrating game for the Cardinals. Thankfully, O\u2019Brien bounced back the next night, pitching around a leadoff double to earn the save.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien earned two saves over the weekend, with Saturday being the most intense. O\u2019Brien gave up two hits and a walk, but managed to retire Sal Stewart<\/a> to preserve the win. He did need some help from the ABS system to avoid a bases-loaded walk, but he did record the save. Sunday was a much cleaner save for the right-hander, giving up just a hit in the 5-3 victory.<\/p>\n![\"Riley](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29146937.webp\")
Jun 7, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O’Brien (61) celebrates with catcher Ivan Herrera (48) after the Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nO\u2019Brien has been great out of the bullpen this season, but he definitely had a lot of traffic this week. For the sanity of Cardinals\u2019 fans everywhere, O\u2019Brien needs to record these saves without the traffic. More importantly, with the Cardinals seemingly preparing to sell at this season\u2019s trade deadline<\/a>, O\u2019Brien can be another piece the Cardinals can move. If he can continue to record saves but create less traffic, he can earn the Cardinals a decent return in a trade.<\/p>\nStandout #1- Lars Nootbaar<\/a><\/h3>\nLars Nootbaar made his long-awaited 2026 debut on Friday, hitting a double in his first at-bat. He finished the game 2-6, picking up an RBI in the team\u2019s 10-3 win. His biggest moment of the weekend came on Saturday, however. Coming off the bench in the bottom of the eighth inning, Nootbaar hit a go-ahead two-run home run to give the Cardinals the lead. Nootbaar did not record a hit on Sunday, but he did record two walks.<\/p>\n
\nWe are pleased to inform you that LARS NOOTBAAR IS BACK! pic.twitter.com\/Jqz7RBV1uZ<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNootbaar\u2019s return has the potential to improve the Cardinals’ lineup<\/a>, and we saw examples of that this weekend. His home run proved that he can certainly be a Cardinals\u2019 standout, even if he comes off the bench. As the Cardinals head on their road trip this week, it will be interesting to see how they use him in the batting order. He hit leadoff on Friday, but that was partially due to Wetherholt sitting out a few days<\/a> to nurse a minor groin pain. He batted fifth on Sunday, and that is where we should expect to see him moving forward. He is not a power hitter by any means, but he can provide some stability in the lineup, especially if he can offer some protection to Walker.<\/p>\n
Marmol is the front-runner for the National League\u2019s \u201cManager of the Year\u201d award, but he has already received an honor. Marmol announced on Sunday that Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 manager Dave Roberts<\/a> has invited him to join his coaching staff for the All-Star Game next month in Philadelphia. Marmol expressed his excitement<\/a> to reporters:<\/p>\n \u201cAs a kid, you grow up watching the Home Run Derby, and you watch the All-Star Game, just all the festivities and everything that goes into it. All the best players in the world, all in one place at the same time, man. So it\u2019s cool to be invited and be able to represent the organization and our families in that type of environment. That\u2019s what I\u2019m looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s success this season, combined with the honor of representing the team at the All-Star Game, makes Marmol a clear candidate for this week\u2019s Cardinals\u2019 standouts installment.<\/p>\n Riley O’Brien made three appearances this past week. His first came on Tuesday against the Rangers. O\u2019Brien entered the game in the ninth inning with the score tied, 4-4. Unfortunately, O\u2019Brien struggled, giving up three runs and earning the loss. His rough outing was just another layer on a frustrating game for the Cardinals. Thankfully, O\u2019Brien bounced back the next night, pitching around a leadoff double to earn the save.<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien earned two saves over the weekend, with Saturday being the most intense. O\u2019Brien gave up two hits and a walk, but managed to retire Sal Stewart<\/a> to preserve the win. He did need some help from the ABS system to avoid a bases-loaded walk, but he did record the save. Sunday was a much cleaner save for the right-hander, giving up just a hit in the 5-3 victory.<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien has been great out of the bullpen this season, but he definitely had a lot of traffic this week. For the sanity of Cardinals\u2019 fans everywhere, O\u2019Brien needs to record these saves without the traffic. More importantly, with the Cardinals seemingly preparing to sell at this season\u2019s trade deadline<\/a>, O\u2019Brien can be another piece the Cardinals can move. If he can continue to record saves but create less traffic, he can earn the Cardinals a decent return in a trade.<\/p>\n Lars Nootbaar made his long-awaited 2026 debut on Friday, hitting a double in his first at-bat. He finished the game 2-6, picking up an RBI in the team\u2019s 10-3 win. His biggest moment of the weekend came on Saturday, however. Coming off the bench in the bottom of the eighth inning, Nootbaar hit a go-ahead two-run home run to give the Cardinals the lead. Nootbaar did not record a hit on Sunday, but he did record two walks.<\/p>\n We are pleased to inform you that LARS NOOTBAAR IS BACK! pic.twitter.com\/Jqz7RBV1uZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Nootbaar\u2019s return has the potential to improve the Cardinals’ lineup<\/a>, and we saw examples of that this weekend. His home run proved that he can certainly be a Cardinals\u2019 standout, even if he comes off the bench. As the Cardinals head on their road trip this week, it will be interesting to see how they use him in the batting order. He hit leadoff on Friday, but that was partially due to Wetherholt sitting out a few days<\/a> to nurse a minor groin pain. He batted fifth on Sunday, and that is where we should expect to see him moving forward. He is not a power hitter by any means, but he can provide some stability in the lineup, especially if he can offer some protection to Walker.<\/p>\nStandout #2- Riley O’Brien<\/a><\/h3>\n
Standout #1- Lars Nootbaar<\/a><\/h3>\n
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