Inside The Cardinals

MLB Writer Shares Major Concern For Surging Cardinals

Not everybody is completely sold on the Cardinals being contenders this season.
Zach Pressnell|
Apr 15, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; A cap rests on the dug out wall with the number 42 on the hat in honor of Major League Baseball s Jackie Robinson Day. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Apr 15, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; A cap rests on the dug out wall with the number 42 on the hat in honor of Major League Baseball s Jackie Robinson Day. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the best teams in baseball and it's come as a major surprise this season. In a year when the Cardinals were seemingly rebuilding, they find themselves in the middle of a National League Central race.

MLB.com's Will Leitch isn't completely sold on the Cardinals, though. Leitch highlighted the Cardinals' pitching staff as a reason to be a bit skeptical this season.

"The Cardinals have had the ninth best ERA in baseball in May, and the rotation has been a big reason why. Matthew Liberatore has established himself as their ace, but the keys to May have been Miles Mikolas (3-0 with a 3.08 ERA) and Erick Fedde (2-1 with a 3.03 ERA)," Leitch wrote. "Mikolas is a particular surprise; after a miserable start in Boston in April, you wondered if the Cardinals might just release him, but he has made enough adjustments not just to stay in the rotation, but to thrive.

"But neither Mikolas nor Fedde strike very many batters out, and neither does Andre Pallante, their fifth starter. (Only Liberatore and Sonny Gray have above-average strikeout rates.) They’ve relied on that defense to get outs, and that’s not a terrible strategy. But there is still crash potential for this rotation."

The pitching staff seems to rely heavily on the defense, which hasn't been a bad thing because the Cardinals defense has been the best in baseball. But at a certain point, the miraculous plays made by Masyn Winn and Nolan Arenado will begin falling in for hits.

With Miles Mikolas and Erick Fedde headlining the rotation, it's hard to be too positive about it, even knowing how well both guys have pitched this season.

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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