St. Louis Cardinals 2024 season preview: Projected lineup, rotation and if new pitching workers can gas rebound

In 2023, the St. Louis Cardinals endured their first shedding season since 2007 and their first 90-loss season since 1990. Such struggles are, suffice it to say, not acquainted to the group or its followers who aren’t of a sure classic. As such, there’s a lot strain on the Cardinals to reverse course and return not solely to competition but in addition to the highest of the Nationwide League Central. On one other stage, the Cardinals have not had shedding information in back-to-back full seasons (i.e., 1994 and 1995 do not depend for these functions), since 1958-59. If 2024 goes awry, that streak of types will finish. 

With the scene amply set, let’s have a better have a look at the 2024 Cardinals. 

Win complete projection, odds

• 2023 document: 71-91 (final in NL Central)
• 2024 SportsLine win complete over/underneath: 85.5 
• World Collection odds (through SportsLine): +3200

Projected lineup

1. Brendan Donovan, DH
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Nolan Gorman, 2B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Alec Burleson, LF
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Dylan Carlson, CF
9. Masyn Winn, SS

Final season, the Cardinals ranked nineteenth in MLB in runs scored and thirteenth in OPS. On the run-scoring entrance, the Playing cards suffered from poor sequencing and a few fluke-ishly dangerous numbers in sure clutch spots. As effectively, their batted-ball high quality up and down the lineup suggests they need to’ve put extra runs on the board than the 719 they did. This is not any type of juggernaut lineup, nevertheless it ought to rank within the upper-third of the league this coming season. The lineup above will look a bit totally different as soon as guys get wholesome (extra on that beneath). It is potential speed-merchant prospect Victor Scott II cracks the roster as the middle fielder, however proper now indicators level to Carlson.

Projected rotation

1. Miles Mikolas, RHP
2. Kyle Gibson, RHP
3. Lance Lynn, RHP
4. Steven Matz, LHP
5. Zack Thompson, LHP

As soon as wholesome, Sonny Grey, the Cardinals’ marquee free-agent addition, will prime this rotation, which might doubtless push Thompson to the bullpen or the Memphis rotation. There’s been a substantial amount of turnover within the rotation, which makes final 12 months’s numbers not particularly illuminating. That mentioned, we’ll hit you with them anyway. The St. Louis rotation final season ranked twenty sixth in MLB with a starters’ ERA of 5.08 and twenty second with a starters’ FIP of 4.61. Gone from final 12 months’s combine are Adam Wainwright, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery (traded to Texas on the deadline), Dakota Hudson, and Jake Woodford, who mixed to make 82 begins for the Cardinals in 2023. 

Projected bullpen

• Nearer: RHP Ryan Helsley
• Setup: RHP Giovanny Gallegos, RHP Andrew Kittredge, LHP JoJo Romero
• Center: RHP Andre Pallante, RHP Riley O’Brien, RHP Nick Robertson
• Lengthy: RHP Ryan Fernandez

Final 12 months’s Cardinals bullpen ranked twenty third within the majors with a aid ERA of 4.47 and 18th within the majors with a aid FIP of 4.16. Notable departures embody Jordan Hicks, Drew VerHagen, and Chris Stratton (traded on the deadline within the Montgomery deal). Exterior of the larger names who return, the Cardinals this offseason added upside, swing-and-miss, and depth through youthful relievers with choices. It is a high-risk, high-reward method.  

Will the rotation overhaul work?

Lengthy-term, the Cardinals must revamp their developmental method to pitching to get it on par with the extra superior orgs just like the Yankees, Dodgers, Rays, and Twins. Within the meantime, they addressed the rotation deficits of final season by including veteran certainties in Sonny Grey, Kyle Gibson, and outdated pal Lance Lynn. Final season, 29 pitchers made greater than 30 begins, and the Cardinals now make use of 4 of the them — these three new additions plus holdover Miles Mikolas. Lefty Steven Matz can be a part of the rotation. Now for 2 key observations on this rebuilt beginning 5:  

• Final season, these 5 hurlers — Grey, Mikolas, Gibson, Lynn, and Matz — mixed for an ERA of 4.47 when beginning. That is considerably higher than what the Cardinals acquired from their starters final season, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not optimum. 
• Matz, who turns 33 in late Might, is the youngest member of the rotation as deliberate. Being so lengthy within the tooth raises the danger of age-related decline, clearly, and it additionally not less than theoretically raises the danger of harm. 

A lot will hinge on whether or not Lynn can bounce again from his deeply disappointing 2023. He figures to have significantly better luck on the subject of seeing so many fly balls depart the yard, and the Cardinals are betting closely on that being the case. As effectively, Mikolas has proven improved velocity this spring and spent the winter engaged on a refined slider. He’ll want such assist if he will be a worthy No. 2 behind Grey.

Is that this going to be a 12 months of accidents for St. Louis?

The Cardinals weren’t an particularly injury-riddled group final 12 months, bit this spring has set a grimmer tone for 2024. Sonny Grey will miss his Opening Day flip due to a hamstring pressure, and it is a reminder that Grey has been sometimes susceptible to illness previously. As effectively, left fielder Lars Nootbaar — one of many group’s prime on-base threats — is sidelined with a few rib fractures, and he is doubtful to begin the season (he is proven a troubling knack for impact-related accidents in his younger profession). Tommy Edman, the Gold Glove super-utility participant who’s been tabbed because the group’s main heart fielder for this season, has suffered setbacks in his restoration from offseason wrist surgical procedure and does not but have a transparent timetable. Keynan Middleton, of the membership’s key veteran bullpen acquisitions, is out with a forearm pressure and will not be prepared in time for Opening Day. 

Elsewhere, Matz is a longtime harm threat, and nearer Ryan Hesley handled arm hassle final season. Nolans Arenado and Gorman have been bedeviled by again ache in 2023, and Gorman particularly has been susceptible to again points for a while. These are all various levels of worrisome, and nothing might undo a bounce-back season in St. Louis fairly like a roster shot by means of with accidents for a lot of the season. 

What would make for a profitable season?

As famous, there’s a lot strain for the Cardinals to make good on their efforts to return to competition. That is maybe particularly the case after supervisor Oli Marmol’s oddly timed contract extension. What the Cardinals want is a division title and to advance previous the primary spherical of the playoffs for the primary time since 2019. If they do not make one or each of these occur, will a rebuild and front-office shake-up be within the offing? That is a chance value pondering.