Cardinals lose to Cubs 6-2 on Aug. 8 as McGreevy struggles. Despite Burleson's RBIs, the frustrating loss shifts the team's focus to its future and farm system.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another Friday night at Busch, another frustrating loss to the rival Cubs. The 6-2 final score felt all too familiar for a team now sitting at 58-59, a stark reminder of a season that has officially become a bridge to the future. While the big-league club struggled, the real story for the St. Louis Cardinals is happening elsewhere—in the front office, on the farm, and in the strategic blueprint being laid out by incoming President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom.
Baez goes deep again! The future is bright in Springfield.
On the field, it was a night to forget. Rookie starter Michael McGreevy looked overmatched, surrendering a crushing three-run homer to Miguel Amaya in the third and ultimately getting tagged for five earned runs in just 4.1 innings. The loss dropped his record to 3-3. The bats offered little support against Cubs veteran Matthew Boyd, mustering just six hits. Alec Burleson was the lone source of production, driving in both Cardinal runs with a 2-for-4 performance, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the deficit. The loss drops the Cardinals to fourth place in the NL Central, cementing 2025 as a year of development rather than contention.
While the Cardinals sputtered in St. Louis, a beacon of hope blasted off in Springfield. No. 10 prospect Joshua Baez launched his 12th home run of the season, his ninth since being promoted to Double-A. The 21-year-old's prodigious power is exactly the kind of high-upside talent the organization is now banking on. His recent surge has him pegged as a potential late-season call-up, offering fans a tangible glimpse of the excitement brewing in the minors. The club's own social media spotlighted the homer, a clear signal to the fanbase about where the true focus lies.
The renewed focus on the farm is the first clear fingerprint of Chaim Bloom, who will officially succeed John Mozeliak at season's end. His vision is already in motion. Post-deadline, the Cardinals' system is teeming with new, high-risk, high-reward talent. Names like Jesus Baez (the new No. 6 prospect), Nate Dohm (No. 15), and Mason Molina (No. 26) represent a philosophical shift towards acquiring players with elite potential, even if they are further from the majors. With 18 pitchers now ranked in the organization's top 30 prospects, Bloom is aggressively addressing the club's most glaring long-term need.
This aggressive rebuild comes with difficult choices, and fan-favorite Lars Nootbaar may be at the center of the biggest one this offseason. Despite a down year at the plate (.229/.328/.378), Nootbaar's defensive versatility, team control, and affordable contract make him a highly attractive trade chip for contending teams. While the Cardinals held onto him at the deadline, insiders suggest he could be moved this winter in a deal to acquire more of the young, controllable pitching Bloom covets. It's the painful calculus of a rebuild: sometimes you have to trade a player you like to build a team that can win.
Tonight's loss to the Cubs was a disappointment, but it's a symptom of the Cardinals' current reality. The wins and losses for the rest of 2025 are secondary. The real game is being played for 2027 and beyond. Keep an eye on Springfield, watch the development of the new prospects, and prepare for an offseason where Chaim Bloom will continue to reshape this franchise from the ground up. The present is tough, but for the first time in a while, the blueprint for the future is clear.
