The St. Louis Cardinals have been unexpectedly impressive this season, particularly on offense, where they rank among the top five in several key National League statistical categories.
Their bats came alive again on Wednesday night in a 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles. After the game, manager Oli Marmol summed up their offensive approach with one word:
“Relentless,” Marmol told MLB.com.
The Cardinals have gone 18-5 over their last 23 games and have won their last five by coming from behind. Few anticipated this level of success, but shortstop Masyn Winn explained how their confidence has grown as the season has progressed:
“We’re legit,” Winn said of the team’s tough lineup. “Out of Spring Training, we weren’t sure what we had, but through the first third of the season, we’ve proven we can flat-out hit—from top to bottom, every day. We’re confident, competitive hitters.”
Although the pitching staff hasn’t been dominant, the Cardinals still sit in second place in the NL Central with a 32-24 record. Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas, who took the mound Wednesday, praised the team’s recent stretch of play:
“We’re playing well, and I’ve been saying it for a while now—the energy is high,” Mikolas said. “We’re enjoying ourselves, winning games, supporting each other, and really playing solid team baseball. Even though baseball can sometimes feel like an individual game, we’re showing it’s a team effort right now.”
The Cardinals are outpacing preseason expectations, but maintaining this momentum into the summer will be key if they hope to secure a playoff berth. A strategic trade deadline move could further boost their chances.