Wetherholt to Third? Cardinals Explore Future as Present Struggles Continue in L.A.

• Cardinals lose to the Dodgers 12-6, dropping their season record to 57-58.
• Starter Miles Mikolas is chased after 3 innings, allowing 5 earned runs in a losing effort (6-9).
• Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy each hit two home runs.
• Top Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt makes his first professional start at third base for the farm team.
• The potential position change for Wetherholt comes as Nolan Arenado is on the injured list.

Another night in Los Angeles, another tough loss for the Cardinals. While the 12-6 drubbing at the hands of the Dodgers stings, dropping the team to 57-58, the most intriguing news for the future of the franchise wasn't happening at Chavez Ravine. Down on the farm, the Cardinals may have just tipped their hand on a potential solution to their infield woes, and his name is JJ Wetherholt.

The Cardinals are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, falling to fourth place in the NL Central.

Dodger Blue Bruises Redbirds

Tuesday night's game was one to forget. Starter Miles Mikolas was chased after just three innings, surrendering five runs in a performance that put the Cardinals in an early hole they couldn't escape. The Dodgers' offense was relentless, with Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández each launching two home runs. Hernández's three-run shot in the seventh off reliever Anthony Banda, who allowed four runs himself, was the final nail in the coffin. While Nolan Gorman and Willson Contreras provided some offensive sparks with home runs of their own, it was far from enough to counter the Dodgers' 12-run onslaught.

A Glimpse of the Future at the Hot Corner?

While the big league club struggled, top prospect JJ Wetherholt made his first-ever professional start at third base. This is a significant development. With Nolan Arenado currently on the injured list with a shoulder issue and the team's infield depth being tested, Wetherholt's positional shift is fueling major speculation. Could the organization's No. 1 prospect be getting fast-tracked to fill a major need in St. Louis? His bat is considered near-ready, and proving he can handle third base might be the final piece of the puzzle for a potential late-season call-up.

On the Mend... and on the Shelf

The need for infield help is underscored by the continued absence of Nolan Arenado (shoulder) and Tommy Edman (ankle), who both remain on the 10-day IL. Their veteran presence and defensive prowess are sorely missed. However, there was a significant piece of good news on the injury front from another key player. High-profile international signing Rōki Sasaki reported being 'pain free' during his shoulder rehab. While he remains on the 60-day IL, it's a massive positive step for the pitcher fans are eagerly awaiting to see in a Cardinals uniform.

Down on the Farm

The farm system continues to be a source of optimism. The affiliates went an even 3-3 on Tuesday, and The Cardinal Nation's Player of the Day was 2B/LF Christian Martin, who went 3-for-7 with a walk, two runs, and a stolen base across a doubleheader. It's another sign of the growing depth in a system bolstered by recent trade deadline acquisitions.

The bleeding needs to stop, and it won't get any easier tonight. The Cardinals send Matthew Liberatore to the mound to face none other than Shohei Ohtani. It's a daunting task as the team tries to salvage a game in this series and climb back to .500. The question for fans is whether to focus on the difficult present or the tantalizing future that prospects like Wetherholt and Sasaki represent.