J.A.

Happ

Happ made the official announcement on The Heart Strong Podcast last week. The 39-year-old left-hander went unsigned as a free agent during the offseason after spending last year with the Cardinals and Twins. He finished a lengthy career with a 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 1,661/668 K/BB ratio across 1,893 2/3 innings (354 appearances, 328 starts) from 2007 to 2021. He spent time with the Blue Jays, Phillies, Yankees, Astros, Pirates, Mariners, Twins and Cardinals over 15 seasons.

Happ gave up three earned runs on nine hits, but he worked into the seventh inning for the first time since joining the Cardinals at the July 30 trade deadline. He has proven to be a solid pickup for St. Louis and could maybe see a postseason start if the club is able to advance past the NL Wild Card Game next Wednesday.

The 38-year-old southpaw scattered two hits and four walks on the afternoon -- needing 74 pitches (43 strikes) to get through four frames. He was then pinch-hit for by Jose Rondon who clubbed a two-run homer during the Cardinals four-run uprising in the fifth inning. Happ will carry a 5.86 ERA and 1.48 WHIP into his regular season finale on Thursday against the Brewers.

Happ allowed four hits, and he while one while generating just two strikeouts. The left-hander has been inconsistent since his trade to St. Louis near the deadline, and now has an ugly 6.02 ERA on the year -- most of that damage done when he disappointed with the Twins. He does have a friendly matchup on paper over the weekend, as Happ is scheduled to face the Cubs on Friday.

Happ pitched well on Sunday as he kept the Reds off the board into the sixth inning while scattering just two hits and one walk. He tossed 53-of-82 pitches for strikes and induced six whiffs to strike out four batters. The scoreless outing gives him a 6.00 ERA on the year with a 1.49 WHIP and 107 strikeouts over 138 innings. The 38-year-old right-hander will take on the Padres in St. Louis his next time out.

Albert Pujols took Happ deep in the first inning in his return trip to St. Louis and the veteran left-hander served up another solo shot to Justin Turner in the fifth. Happ has surrendered two long balls in three of his last four starts and has now allowed 29 home runs on the season. He can’t be trusted in fantasy leagues this weekend at home against the Reds, a team which hung seven runs on Happ last week.

So much for Happ’s excellent 2.22 ERA in five starts for the Cardinals. It’s nearly twice as high now at 4.30. Happ will get the Dodgers next and perhaps a rematch with the Reds afterwards, so this isn’t the time to be using him in mixed leagues.

The left-hander walked three and struck out four on the night. The only blemish on his night was an RBI triple by Yoshi Tsutsugo in the fifth inning. He then issued a two-out walk before departing in the sixth and that run eventually came around to score. It’s the third time that Happ has faced the Pirates in five starts since joining the Cardinals, and in those starts he has allowed a total of five earned runs over 17 2/3 innings (2.55 ERA). He’ll square off against the Reds in Cincinnati his next time out on Wednesday.

The left-hander racked up an impressive eight strikeouts on the night while issuing only one free pass. Both of the runs that he allowed came on solo blasts -- by Kevin Newman in the third and Yoshi Tsutsugo in the fourth inning. Happ threw 61 of his 94 pitches for strikes, registering just seven swings and misses and posting a CSW of 28 percent. Happ has pitched incredibly well over his four starts since joining the Cardinals, lowering his ERA from 6.77 to 5.88 in the process. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling on Friday in a rematch against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Happ was staked to a seven-run lead by the second inning and cruised to an easy victory. He scattered five hits, finished with two strikeouts, and only issued a pair of walks. The 38-year-old southpaw has allowed just three runs over 16 2/3 innings (three starts) since being acquired by the Cardinals at the trade deadline last month. He’ll carry a lackluster 6.03 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 88/36 K/BB ratio across 115 innings (22 starts) into a favorable home matchup against the Pirates on Saturday evening.