Gant started Saturday's Grapefruit League win over the Astros and fired four scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and two walks while recording three strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Gant threw 52 pitches (31 strikes) overall during his appearance, which served to strengthen his case for one of two open spots in the Cardinals' rotation. The veteran right-hander has 11 starts on his major-league resume and is stretching out nicely as spring unfolds, keeping him firmly in contention in a job battle that may not be decided until just prior to the start of the regular season.

Gant started Monday's 6-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins and allowed an unearned run and a walk over two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile right-hander, who's in contention for one of the two season-opening vacancies in the starting rotation, made an impressive case for his candidacy with the efficient outing. Gant's one hiccup was a leadoff walk to Jonathan Villar in the first, one that came back to bite him when the Marlins veteran eventually scored on an error by Lane Thomas. Otherwise, Gant mostly breezed through his outing and fired a total of 33 pitches. The 27-year-old will look to build on Monday's performance in his next Grapefruit League turn, likely to come at some point toward the end of the week or on the weekend.

Gant is one of several pitchers on the Cardinals' staff that could have an opportunity to temporarily take Miles Mikolas' (forearm) spot in the rotation, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander has been a valuable component of the team's pitching arsenal over the last two seasons, generating sub-4.00 ERAs in each campaign and logging 19 starts among his 90 appearances over that span. Given his body of work, Gant undoubtedly has the trust of manager Mike Shildt to fill in for a stint in the starting rotation while Mikolas recovers. However, spring performances are poised to be the final determinant of who slides into the role, with Gant facing competition from a slew of other arms that includes Ryan Helsley, Genesis Cabrera, Daniel Ponce de Leon and Kwang-Hyun Kim.

Gant and the Cardinals avoided arbitration with a one-year, $1.3 million deal Friday, freelance baseball writer Robert Murray reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gant converted fully to relief in 2019 and had an effective season. He finished with three saves and a 3.66 ERA in 66.1 innings, though his 12.6 percent walk rate is a potential cause for concern going forward, especially as his 22.3 percent strikeout rate isn't particularly impressive.

Gant is not on the roster for the National League Division Series against the Braves.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile reliever recorded an 11-1 record with three saves this season, but saw his ERA rise to 3.66 after several shaky outings in September. Gant was replaced by Daniel Ponce de Leon in the bullpen for the NLDS.

Gant (11-1) was credited with the victory in a win over the Cubs on Saturday, retiring the only batter he faced on two pitches to close out the eighth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Gant needed just two pitches to induce an inning-ending groundout from Nicholas Castellanos and keep the Cardinals' deficit at 8-7 at the time. The right-hander had allowed four earned runs over just one-third of an inning across his prior two appearances, so Saturday's brief outing was both encouraging and fruitful for Gant's fantasy managers.

Gant (10-1) was charged with the loss in a defeat at the hands of the Brewers on Sunday, allowing three earned runs on three walks over one-third of an inning while recording one strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander's season-long undefeated run came to a close courtesy of a Ryan Braun home run off Junior Fernandez that plated the three batters Gant had put on via free passes. It was a rare 2019 stumble for the ultra-reliable reliever, who's seen multiple earned runs go on his ledger in two of his last four appearances.

Gant could be a candidate for the closer's role to open the 2020 season if Carlos Martinez is able to secure a spot in the starting rotation during spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jordan Hicks (elbow) isn't expected back until midseason at the earliest, and Martinez continues to voice his desire for a shot at re-entering the starting rotation next year despite his solid track record as a closer. Therefore, manager Mike Shildt could have a ninth-inning vacancy on his hands to open the 2020 campaign, and Gant, who's forged a perfect 10-0 mark and has recorded three saves in six opportunities this season, shapes up as a candidate for the job. With southpaw Andrew Miller also on hand, the possibility of a closing platoon looms if Martinez does return to starting. Giovanny Gallegos has forced his way into the conversation as well.

Gant (10-0) earned the win after delivering a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout and two walks in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Gant was able to reach double-digits in the win column Saturday as the Cardinals rallied for two runs in the ninth to walk off the Reds. The 27-year-old is enjoying his first full season as a reliever with a 2.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 51:26 K:BB through 61.2 innings.

Gant (9-0) was credited with the victory in a win over the Brewers on Monday, firing 2.1 scoreless innings in which he allowed no hits, issued a walk and recorded three strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Gant fired 22 of 35 pitches for strikes in another efficient outing, getting some valuable outs after starter Adam Wainwright couldn't finish the fourth inning. Gant bounced back nicely from a hiccup in his last appearance Friday against the Rockies, when he surrendered three runs over an inning. Monday's scoreless effort brought his ERA back under 3.00 (2.97) while also affording him his second win of August.