Alec Burleson's 26th home run staked St. Louis to an early lead, but Brice Turang's go-ahead two-run shot in the 5th sent the Cardinals to their third straight loss heading into today's finale at Milwaukee.

St. Louis's top affiliate fell to Rochester 3-2 in Game 3 of the International League Championship Series, closing out the organization's deepest farm postseason push of the year.

Hjerpe, who worked back from Tommy John surgery on a starter's routine this season, finishes his MLB debut with a 4.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 12.1 innings across four relief appearances. He was optioned to give St. Louis a fresh arm for its season-ending series in Milwaukee.

St. Louis's top affiliate lost the deciding game 2-3 after Zach Levenson's playoff home run tied it in the fifth inning; Rochester scored twice in the eighth to close out the series.

St. Louis optioned Hjerpe, who posted a 4.38 ERA with 15 strikeouts in four relief outings after returning from Tommy John surgery, to bring up a fresh arm for the season's final series; he's floated locally as a potential 2027 rotation piece.

Triple-A Memphis dropped Game 1 of the International League Championship Series 4-3 to Rochester, with catcher Jimmy Crooks going 3-for-4 with a homer. Double-A Springfield fell to 1-1 in the Texas League Championship Series after a 4-0 loss to Amarillo.

Nineteen-year-old catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez was named St. Louis's Minor League Player of the Year and is a finalist for a national award after hitting .324 with 27 home runs across two levels, including a Texas League batting title at Double-A Springfield.

Andre Pallante allowed just one earned run over six innings in a 2-0 loss at Pittsburgh, lowering his season ERA to 3.61 -- nearly two runs better than a year ago.

Right-hander Kyle Leahy, managed on an innings limit down the stretch, was set to make his final 2026 start this week as the Cardinals look ahead to next season's rotation.

St. Louis dropped to 76-81; if the Cardinals don't win out, it will be the franchise's first consecutive losing seasons since 1958-59. Starter Andre Pallante (12-8) took the loss, now 2-2 in 10 starts since the All-Star break despite a 3.00 ERA over that span.

Memphis (83-67, International League first-half champions) is hosting the Rochester Red Wings in a best-of-three title series at AutoZone Park, Sept. 22-24. Jurrangelo Cijntje started Game 1 for Memphis.

With the big-league club long eliminated (76-80, 22 GB), Double-A Springfield's title run is one of the only live storylines left in the system. Top prospect Tai Peete's five-hit, four-RBI night in a championship-series opener is a notable prospect development story, and Game 2 -- a potential series-clinching game -- is scheduled for today. - Springfield beat Amarillo 7-2 on the road in Game 1 of the Texas League Championship Series (played Sept. 20). - Tai Peete went 5-for-5 with a double, a three-run homer (his second of the postseason), two runs scored and four RBI -- first five-hit game

The Cardinals' top affiliate closes a solid Triple-A season (83-67) and, despite dropping its finale, reached the postseason on the strength of the International League's best first-half record -- relevant pipeline context for players who could factor into St. Louis' 2027 roster mix. - Memphis lost its regular-season finale to Nashville 5-3 on Sept. 20, finishing 83-67 overall (36-39 second half). - Redbirds secured playoff spot with best first-half record in the International League. - Graysen Tarlow (2-RBI double) and Colton Ledbetter (2-for-4, RBI) led Memphis' offense in the loss. - Me

Rookie catcher Leo Bernal's opposite-field, go-ahead homer in the eighth gave him 17 RBIs in his first 18 MLB games, third-most in team history in that span; closer Riley O'Brien picked up his NL-leading 38th save.