photo: Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty (Jeff Curry/Imagn)
Not everyone thinks it is too late for 2023 and that the Cardinals should sell. Lou Roesch outlines his three-step plan for the team to get back into the National League Central Division race.
After Wednesday’s win over the Miami Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals have escaped last place in the National League Central and are 10 games off the pace of the Milwaukee Brewers. Most baseball fans are shocked by the 2023 Cardinals’ first half as much as they are by the Cincinnati Reds vying for the top spot in the division. If you were a betting man on the first half of the season, I’m guessing you would have lost a boatload of money on St. Louis.
All is not lost though. Most teams at 10 games under .500 would be considered done for the season but this is St. Louis. This is a franchise that has only finished last in the history of the organization a handful of times. Much like they did in 1964 and more recently in 2021, the Cardinals are in a spot to prove the naysayers wrong once again. Here are three things the Cardinals must do over the next month of the season to set themselves up for the playoffs.
The most basic task is to win more baseball games. There are 11 weeks left in the season, meaning they only need to make up a game per week, not out of the realm of possibility. Over the next 30 days minus the series with the Tampa Bay Rays at the beginning of August, St. Louis will oppose a group of teams with losing records. Making the news even better is that they face the Cubs, Twins, and Rockies at home between now and the middle of August. Another 17-game winning streak would be nice. The opportunity is there.
Second, the St. Louis front office needs to reverse their plans and be a buyer and not a seller as the trade deadline approaches. With Jack Flaherty hurling his third consecutive quality start to close out the Nationals series, it’s time to see what arms St. Louis could add to the back of the rotation. Can Adam Wainwright rebound from his shoulder issues? Only time will tell especially since manager Oliver Marmol wants him back in the rotation. Which Steven Matz does St. Louis get in the second half? His prior outing on five days rest was nothing short of horrible. In fact, his entire time in St. Louis has not been close to anything you might have expected following his big signing splash after the 2021 season. Winless against seven losses in 2023 with 41 earned runs in 76 innings of work, it’s time to consider other options.
Lastly, it is time to replace shortstop Paul DeJong. His time has come and gone with St. Louis. Yes, it’s true that he has feasted on weaker pitching the last couple of series but when the Cardinals need his bat in a big series against real pitching, the Illinois State University alum goes silent.
Shortstop Masyn Winn is the future, and he is ready. Since Game 2 of a doubleheader with Memphis back on June 14th, the third-year pro has been tearing the hide off the ball. His bat is sizzling consistently against all pitching, as he has 31 hits in his last 98 at bats. The .316 clip includes hitting safely in 18 of his last 22 games with 12 extra base hits, eight multi-hit games, 19 RBI, and 14 walks. His defense continues excel and he brings speed to the basepaths.
The Cardinals are poised to make a big run. The next few series will tell the tale of the tape however this is a franchise that is not used to losing and can be counted on to make the right moves when it matters most.
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 2023 Prospect Guide is back for its sixth year. It includes 292 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!
All paying members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-tcns-2023-cardinals-prospect-guide/
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Follow Lou Roesch on Twitter @sportsguy409.
© 2023 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.