We have a massive announcement here on The Starting Lineup! We are officially bringing a heavyweight in from the bullpen to join the 102.1 The Won KOSP digital team. Springfield Springfield Public Schools’ own Kickapoo High School graduate Rob Rains, the mastermind behind STLSportsPage.com, is officially partnering with the station! Moving forward, you can catch his deep-dive St. Louis Cardinals printed insight right on our website, alongside his highly anticipated weekly podcast, Rains on the Cardinals.

To celebrate the big news, Rob joined Ned Reynolds, Scott Puryear, and Art Haines in the studio to break down the current state of the Redbirds, upcoming trade deadline chaos, and some incredibly exciting arms moving through the minor league pipeline.

Lars Nootbaar’s Return and the Outfield Trade Radar

We started things off looking at the immediate spark hitting the lineup. Lars Nootbaar is back from the injured list, which we hope injects some much-needed life into the bottom half of the batting order. However, his return creates a fascinating logjam. With Jordan Walker locking down right field and Brendan Donovan holding down left, the center field mix between Victor Scott II and Michael Siani (plus a rehabbing Alec Burleson or young prospects) is getting crowded. Rob threw out a major hot take: if the Cardinals want to bring back a premier package of prospects at the trade deadline, Nootbaar might actually be sitting right at the top of the trading radar due to his high market value.

The Nolan Gorman Dilemma and Jordan Walker’s Positioning

Art Haines pressed Rob on the fan lightning rod that is Nolan Gorman. While Gorman’s batting average has frustrated the faithful, Rob pointed out that his run-production pace remains solid, and the team doesn’t have an obvious alternative at third base right now with Jordan Walker settling into right field. Scott Puryear brought up the million-dollar question: why not move Walker back to his original position at third base? Rob shot that down for the short term, noting that Walker is finally finding comfort at the plate and in right field ; adding defensive overthinking in the middle of the season is a recipe for trouble.

A Loaded Pitching Pipeline in Springfield and Memphis

If you want something to get genuinely excited about, look no further than Route 66 Stadium and AutoZone Park. Rob noted that the organization’s minor league pitching depth is absolutely staggering right now. From Tink Hence getting his velocity back up to 96 MPH in Memphis to Quinn Matthews dominating his latest starts, the depth is there. Down here with our Springfield Cardinals, names like Braden Davis, switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, and recent trade acquisition Tink Hence’s developmental peers have Route 66 Stadium completely loaded.

Labor Clouds: The Looming December 1st CBA Deadline

We closed out the conversation by shifting from the diamond to the front office. The current Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on December 1st, and Rob isn’t overly optimistic about an easy resolution. The main hurdle? It isn’t just players vs. owners; it’s owners vs. owners. With a proposed salary cap and floor, smaller-market clubs like the Marlins and Pirates are terrified of forced spending, while monoliths like the Dodgers face slashed budgets. Throw in the complications of streaming rights and the 2028 national TV revenue pool expiration, and we are likely looking at a long, tense winter.