The St. Louis Cardinals opened growing focus on Nolan Gorman’s ongoing slump. The infielder has endured a difficult stretch at the plate, prompting manager Oliver Marmol to address the situation before the team resumed its series against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium.
Despite the recent struggles, the Cardinals continue to believe in Gorman’s long-term upside, which is why his bat remains in the lineup. Still, the downturn has become harder to ignore. Through 56 games this season, he is batting .207 with 38 hits, six home runs, 25 RBIs, and 17 runs scored. Over his last 10 games, however, he has managed just two hits, good for a .067 average.
For a club trying to stay within striking distance in the National League Central, that kind of cold spell adds pressure. St. Louis entered Tuesday with a 31–27 record, sitting 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers and fighting to remain relevant in the upper half of the division.
Speaking publicly about Gorman’s struggles, Marmol emphasized that effort has not been the issue. He noted that the two have had ongoing conversations and that Gorman continues to put in the necessary work behind the scenes, even as results have lagged.
Marmol’s comments struck a balance between outward support and internal expectations. While reaffirming confidence in Gorman’s preparation and mindset, the Cardinals are still pushing for adjustments that can lead to more productive at-bats.
The timing is critical, with St. Louis locked in a tight race that also includes the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs near second place. Every spot in the lineup matters as the Cardinals look to gain ground and avoid wasting a solid start to the season.
On the field, the Cardinals showed early life Tuesday, jumping out to a 1–0 lead over Texas by the bottom of the third inning.
For Gorman, the challenge now is converting behind-the-scenes work into tangible results. For the Cardinals, Marmol’s patient approach reflects trust in the player, even as the standings leave little margin for prolonged offensive struggles.