Cardinals fall to Braves 3-1 on July 13 despite Jurickson Profar's efforts, but find hope by drafting future ace Liam Doyle with the 5th overall pick.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of split emotions for Cardinals fans. While the big league club sputtered in a frustrating 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the organization made a massive investment in its future, selecting electrifying left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle with the 5th overall pick in the MLB Draft. One event showcased the team's current struggles, while the other provided a powerful dose of hope for what's to come.
New Cardinals prospect Liam Doyle led all of Division I with a staggering 42.6% strikeout rate in 2025.
With the fifth overall pick, St. Louis snagged a potential future ace in Liam Doyle from the University of Tennessee. The southpaw is the talk of the draft, armed with a fastball that consistently hits 100 mph with exceptional riding life. His dominance in college was historic; he posted a 2.91 ERA and led the nation with a 42.6% strikeout rate. While scouts note his secondary pitches are a work in progress, his command of the fastball is elite. Doyle represents a huge injection of top-tier talent into the Cardinals' system, and he's expected to be on the fast track to Busch Stadium.
On the field, it was a familiar story of offensive woes. The Cardinals' bats were silenced by the Braves, managing just six hits in the 3-1 defeat. Jurickson Profar was a lone bright spot, collecting two hits and scoring the only run. The rest of the lineup couldn't solve Atlanta's pitching, leaving runners stranded and failing to deliver a big hit. The game was ultimately decided by Braves slugger Matt Olson, whose 3 RBIs accounted for all of Atlanta's scoring, a painful reminder of what a difference one clutch hitter can make.
Despite the loss, there was a positive takeaway from the mound. Starter D. Daniel turned in a solid performance, keeping the Cardinals in the game by allowing just one earned run on two hits over four innings. He was efficient and effective, striking out five Braves hitters. In a game where offense was non-existent, Daniel's outing was a welcome sign, providing a small silver lining and bridging the gap between the team's present pitching and the promise of its newly drafted arm.
While today's loss drops the Cardinals to 50-46 and highlights the offensive consistency issues that have plagued them, the story of July 13th, 2025, will be remembered for the future, not the present. The addition of a potential ace in Liam Doyle is a massive win for the organization. As the team battles for a playoff spot, fans can take solace in knowing a powerful arm is on the way, hopefully to help win games like today's in the years to come.
