Cardinals dismiss Mike Matheny as manager

The Cardinals have dismissed Mike Matheny after six and a half seasons as the club’s manager, the team announced.

The Cardinals have named bench coach Mike Shildt as the interim manager. Along with Matheny, the Cardinals have also let go hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller.

Matheny’s firing came after the Cardinals lost to the last-place Reds, 8-2, for the second straight day. The loss put the Cards at 47-46 on the year and seven games behind the Cubs for first in the NL Central.

Matheny’s managerial career had started off well. After succeeding Tony LaRussa following a 2011 season that saw the Cardinals went to the World Series, he directed the Cards to four straight playoff appearances, three NLCS appearances and a World Series trip in 2013 that ended with a loss to the Red Sox in six games. However, St. Louis had so-so campaigns in 2016 and 2017, notching 86 and 83 wins, respectively, causing Matheny to receive a lot of criticism coming into this season. The criticism only amplified this year since they are in third place in the division behind the Cubs and Brewers.

Matheny leaves with a 591-473 record. His win total was good for fifth on St. Louis’ all-time wins list.