Every MLB team experiences ups and downs during the grueling 162-game season. The St. Louis Cardinals, however, are enjoying one of their best stretches in 2024 after their recent series win.
The Cardinals have won 10 of their last 14 games, boasting an NL-best 26-14 record since May 12, after splitting a doubleheader with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. They rebounded from a 6-2 loss in the first game with a 4-1 victory in the second.
Despite facing challenges, including bad weather and numerous injuries, the Cardinals remain resilient. “With all the rain delays, doubleheader, bullpen game and all of it, guys just stayed locked in,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, per John Denton. “They’re not giving in to a lot. It doesn’t matter — delays or not starting on time — once that first pitch is thrown, guys are locked in. They’re not giving away a whole lot. If the opposition is giving us anything, we’re taking advantage of it and playing good baseball.”
Currently holding a playoff spot with a 41-38 record, the Cardinals are in the second of three wild card positions, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by six games in the NL Central. However, the NL wild card standings are tight, with six teams within three games of each other.
A significant factor in the Cardinals’ recent success is their pitching staff. Despite navigating through pitching injuries and bullpen games, the team is getting quality innings from its starters. Reliever turned starter Matthew Liberatore delivered a stellar performance on Wednesday, blanking the Braves through six innings and recording a career-high eight strikeouts.
“He was in control of that whole outing and the game looked slow to him,” Marmol said. “And, man, he was on the attack. He was incredible. … He took advantage of this opportunity and took a huge step forward.”
Liberatore, a first-round pick in 2018 acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020, made his MLB debut in May 2022. Despite a rough May with a 7.43 ERA across 13.1 innings, he has bounced back in June with a 1.72 ERA in 15.2 innings. Wednesday’s start was a promising sign for his potential to secure a permanent spot in the starting rotation.
If the Cardinals can maintain their momentum into the All-Star break, they could emerge as one of the top teams in baseball for the second half of the season. After a challenging 2023, an optimistic summer 2024 is on the horizon for St. Louis.