Willson Contreras erupted after being ejected from the Cardinals’ win over Pittsburgh, tossing his bat toward first-base umpire Stu Scheurwater. The bat struck Brant Brown, the Cardinals’ hitting coach, and Contreras capped the moment by pelting the field with Hi-Chew. MLB punishment could loom, adding risk to Contreras’ playing time and fantasy upside.

The triggering 0-2 pitch from Yohan Ramírez had an 87.5% chance to be called a strike per TruMedia, a reminder that competitive fire often flares on close calls. Contreras is still productive (.261/.345/.460, 19 HR, 70 RBI in 120 games, 2.3 WAR), but discipline could alter STL’s lineup and fantasy projections moving forward.

In a related note, Victor Robles’ recent bat-throwing incident in a rehab context underscores how tempers influence roster decisions. For fantasy investors, Contreras’ status and the Cardinals’ catcher arrangement will shape rest-of-season planning and risk assessment.