Pregame
After many struggles, the Cardinals found themselves at equal wins and losses entering Philadelphia for Friday night’s game. The season at exactly one third over. How did the Cardinals do?
The offense has finally been clicking: Masyn Winn is on an 18 game hitting streak entering tonight’s game. The Cardinals find themselves in the middle of the pack at 16th in MLB in roster production from the offense and defense at 6.2 fWAR. Milwaukee leads the Central by far, but the Cardinals are outdoing every other team in our division with its positional players outside of pitching.
This is due to a much improved offense as of late: The Cardinals are much closer to Milwaukee’s level of production since May 1st! Why? The Cardinals are hitting better than the Brewers now, there is no doubt. And the Brewers are superior at defense, again, without doubt. Since May 1st the Cardinals are at 114 wRC+, which is third in the major leagues. I don’t say that out of boast; I say it out of surprise, and out of hope.
Yes the hopium is back in town. Pitching-wise, the Cardinals lag behind the Cubs, and are also behind the Brewers’ level of production. But Cincinnati is the true class of the division in pitching fWAR.
But you know who’s better at team pitching? the Phillies! And we are about to play them. Philadelphia is at 8.2 fWAR, which is the inverse of the Cardinals 2.8 fWAR derived from starting pitching. The Phillies also have the better bullpen. The Phillies are winning due to pitching, mostly. And it’s been really, really good. And they might end up having the best pitching in baseball.
Philadelphia also has a really, really good offense with no weak points. The hitters are good or elite, mostly. Their only weakness may be defense. And the defense is mostly bogged down by Kyle Schwarber. Hit it his way I guess. How is the offense this good?
Bryce Harper. Alec Bohm. Trea Turner. And Edmundo Sosa? Why aren’t we complaining about letting that guy walk away? 166 wRC+ with a lot of on base ability. Schwarber, Realmuto, Marsh, and Stott. Stacked offense.
And with that, I wish the Cardinals some good luck and an extended hot streak! Over the last month the Cardinals really aren’t that far behind what the Phillies have done in that time. And in the last two weeks as well as in the last week, the Cardinals are just on a hotter streak than the Phillies. The second third of the season is here and it brings a boss level opponent in Philadelphia.
T1 Nola retired the side easily
B1 Mikoles retired the side easily
T2 Nola retired the side easily
B2 Would the pitching easy streak continue? Was it a pitcher’s duel? Nope. The Phillies started making more and more contact until the greatest Cardinal that the Cardinals ever let go outside of not drafting Mike Trout, Edmundo Sosa, hit a three run home run. I say that because he’s having a hell of a season this year, mostly on offense but he’s a good defender too. 3-0 Phillies.
T3 Expect the unexpected? Why yes, a Brandon Crawford solo shot.
B3 Bryce Harper two out double, but the score remained the same.
T4 Cardinals unable to make up any ground vs Nola
B4 Good Mikolas
T5 Crawford got another hit but the rest of the Cardinals were still under Nola’s spell. It was 3-1 Phillies.
B5 Good Mikolas again but he walked Schwarber. Still 3-1.
T6 Nola again retired the side.
B6 Mikolas actually had a good game tonight outside of the 3 run homer to Sosa. 3-1.
T7 The Cardinals inched closer with another solo home run, this time with just about as Arenado a home run as you could imagine, way ahead of one but launched off the inner mesh of the left field foul pole. 3-2 Phillies. The first out came with Nola’s sixth strikeout, against Herrera. Philadelphia went to its bullpen after Nola got the first out. Strahm was summoned. He sliced and diced the Cardinals to keep it at 3-2 Phils.
B7 The Cardinals answered the call to the ‘pen with Leahy. This appeared to be an ok move until Marsh hit a double and Rojas produced an RBI single; back to back hits. 4-2. It was Liberatore’s turn to face the very good Phillies lineup. He was able to get that final out.
T8 The Phillies flashed their leather and thwarted any offensive plans by the Cardinals.
B8 Liberatore was good tonight and kept it at 4-2 Phillies going into the 9th.
T9 The Cardinals had one more chance, and it was against Jeff Hoffman, the Phillies 1.14 ERA closer. Could Goldschmidt get on base against that guy? No. He struck out. Did Gorman stand a chance? Nope. Back to back K for Hoffman. Made Gorman look bad. How about the other Nolan, Arenado? He flew out to right field. The Phillies just became the first team to the 40 win mark in 2024.
What’s next?
A pitcher’s duel in Philadelphia Saturday night starting at 6:15pm cst. Gray vs Suarez. Both are elite pitchers but Suarez is next level... so it should be a good one but the edge obviously goes to Philadelphia. Hopefully the Cardinals can upset them at home tomorrow night.
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