The St. Louis Cardinals shut out the San Diego Padres 3-0 on July 26, 2025, behind a gem from Miles Mikolas and Ryan Helsley's 25th save. See how they did it.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a masterclass in pitching and defense at Busch Stadium on Saturday as the St. Louis Cardinals silenced the San Diego Padres with a 3-0 victory. Miles Mikolas set the tone with five stellar innings, and the bullpen slammed the door shut, proving that even when the bats are quiet, this team can find ways to win.
Ryan Helsley hit 102 mph on the radar gun to slam the door in the ninth, securing his 25th save of the season.
Miles Mikolas was the star of the show, weaving through the Padres lineup for five scoreless innings despite allowing six hits. But this victory was a true team effort on the mound. When the Padres threatened, the defense stepped up, highlighted by a spectacular diving catch from Victor Scott in center field. Steven Matz, in his first appearance since July 20th, entered a tight spot in the sixth and delivered crucial outs, paving the way for a lockdown bullpen. The effort culminated with Ryan Helsley, who was simply electric, lighting up the radar gun at 102 mph to close out the game for the team's 11th shutout.
The win pushes the Cardinals to 54-51 on the season and marks their third straight victory at home. While they remain in fourth place in the NL Central, eight games behind the Brewers, this kind of gritty, well-pitched win is exactly what the team needs to build momentum. The offense, led by the steady presences of Willson Contreras (.266 AVG, 61 RBI) and Brendan Donovan (.293 AVG), provided just enough run support to get the job done. Stringing together wins like this is the only way to close the gap in the division.
The good news wasn't just confined to the major league club. The latest MLB Pipeline prospect rankings underscored the growing strength of the Cardinals' farm system, particularly in its pitching depth. Despite injuries to top arms like Quinn Mathews and Tekoah Roby, pitchers such as Ixan Henderson and Brycen Mautz have made significant leaps. Meanwhile, shortstop JJ Wetherholt continues to dominate in his first full pro season, solidifying his status as the organization's top prospect. The system is also uniquely stocked with catching talent, boasting Leonardo Bernal, Rainiel Rodriguez, and Jimmy Crooks all within the top prospects list.
With the first two games of the series secured, the Cardinals will look to complete the sweep of the Padres on Sunday. Another strong performance could provide a crucial springboard as they head into the final stretch of the season, needing every win to stay in the hunt for October.
