As the MLB All-Star Game approaches on July 15, five St. Louis Cardinals are showing strong fan support in the early voting updates. Brendan Donovan leads the pack, currently sitting in fourth place among National League second basemen. Despite his impressive performance leading the league in WAR and several batting metrics, he trails behind Ketel Marte, Tommy Edman, and Nico Hoerner, largely due to market size disparities.

Other Cardinals in the mix include Iván Herrera, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and Masyn Winn, all of whom are in the top 10 for their respective positions. Donovan’s chances of moving forward in the voting hinge on closing the gap with Edman and Hoerner over the next voting rounds.

In a strategic move, the St. Louis Cardinals are giving Lars Nootbaar a break after a rough stretch at the plate, where he went 1-for-19 over his last five games. Nolan Gorman will step in as the starting left fielder against the Toronto Blue Jays, and Masyn Winn moves into the leadoff position. Iván Herrera, who recently hit a crucial three-run homer, will bat second. On the mound, Miles Mikolas faces Chris Bassitt in a critical matchup as the Cardinals aim to even the series following a disappointing extra-inning loss.

Recent trends in fantasy baseball show a refreshing shift in the catcher position, once a major area of concern for fantasy managers. This season, a wave of young talent has emerged, reshaping perceptions about the value of catchers. With breakout performances from players like Ivan Herrera of the St. Louis Cardinals and Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves, the landscape appears more favorable. Herrera has demonstrated a remarkable offensive uptick, boasting a stellar WRC+ that reflects his potential as a starting-caliber catcher. Baldwin's impressive batting average also signals his promising future despite some concerns over playing time.

Other notable names like Logan O'Hoppe of the Los Angeles Angels and Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies continue to add depth to this evolving position. O'Hoppe's power-hitting ability has drawn comparisons to previous fantasy stars, while Goodman, despite a shaky start to his career, has shown signs of improvement. Additionally, Agustin Ramirez from the Miami Marlins adds to the mix, displaying a solid blend of power and speed. Collectively, these emerging stars raise intriguing questions about the future of the catcher role in fantasy leagues, suggesting a need for reevaluation in both redraft and dynasty formats.

With a busy slate of MLB games on May 28, 2025, several players have emerged as promising candidates for home run prop bets. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees continues to dominate with an exceptional season, boasting a near .400 batting average and a 22.9% barrel rate. His upcoming matchup against lefty Yusei Kikuchi, who struggles against right-handed hitters, presents a golden opportunity for a home run at +185 odds.

Cal Raleigh, the standout catcher for the Seattle Mariners, also makes waves with 19 home runs already this season. He faces Trevor Williams, a pitcher who has been vulnerable against left-handed hitters, making Raleigh's +230 odds appealing. Meanwhile, Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, despite a recent slump, has favorable matchups that could break his home run drought at +450 odds.

Longshots Ivan Herrera from the St. Louis Cardinals and Nolan Schanuel from the Los Angeles Angels are also on the radar. Herrera's impressive left-handed stats against Cade Povich and Schanuel's potential against Clarke Schmidt could deliver significant payouts, with odds of +950 and +1000, respectively. Betting on these players could yield substantial returns, especially given their current form and the circumstances surrounding their matchups.

The St. Louis Cardinals are on an impressive run, winning 13 of their last 15 games, marking a significant turnaround from earlier in the season. After a pair of series wins against the Phillies and Royals, they've climbed to No. 7 in Bleacher Report's MLB Power Rankings. With a 12-2 record over their last 14 games, they’ve gone from struggling to a playoff contender, posing a substantial threat to the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Key to this success has been standout pitching performances from Matthew Liberatore and Kyle Leahy, contributing to a collective ERA of 2.62 during this stretch. Offensively, Iván Herrera has returned from the injured list in spectacular form, boasting a .500 batting average over his last seven games. The Cardinals aim to continue their winning streak against the Detroit Tigers, who currently hold the best record in the league.