Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
As the 2024 season gets underway, the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting rotation is undoubtedly their biggest question mark. The team was aggressive early in free agency, knowing they needed to sign three starters. They acquired veteran inning eaters Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson as well as a legit number one starter in Sonny Gray. The front office also extended Miles Mikolas prior to the start of the 2023 season. The move guaranteed having at least two starters under contract heading into the off-season.
Fanbase Underwhelmed by Off-Season Moves
Many Cardinal fans were understandably frustrated with the moves. The Cardinals fanbase is one that wants nothing less than competing for a World Series every year. The additions of Lynn and Gibson weren’t the big names that they wanted. It’s been shown time after time that a team needs at least two top starters to make a run more likely in the playoffs. Gray is the only addition that fits that description.
While Lynn and Gibson can keep a team in games, they’re not dominant front-end starters. When all are healthy, the rotation of Gray, Lynn, Mikolas, Gibson, and Matz isn’t necessarily intimidating. Additionally, their age is a major cause for concern. Keeping them all healthy will be difficult, a problem that has already reared it head with an injury to Gray before the season even started.
The injury to Gray made a tough opening series against the Dodgers even tougher. The injury bumped Mikolas up to the opening day starter. His struggles made Cardinal fans everywhere feel like they were right back in the 2023 season. However, the veteran pitchers have given some fans a glimmer of hope with their performance against the Padres.
Gibson Impresses in First Start
Newly acquired starter Gibson had a rough spring that caused concern for some. Others chalked it up to just working on things in spring training. So far, it’s looking like the latter were correct. The righty pitched a gem in his final start of the pre-season, and it carried over to his first start of the year versus the Padres.
The veteran righty allowed home runs to rookie Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr., but was in complete control otherwise. He allowed only two runs and four hits in seven innings pitched while striking out four and walking two. Furthermore, he did it while throwing only 94 pitches. The quality start was just what the club needed. It allowed some rest for the depleted bullpen following a series in which they were used heavily versus the Dodgers.
Cardinals Veteran Rebounds
The veteran righty Mikolas rebounded nicely after a rough season opener against the Dodgers. Mikolas lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and gave up two homeruns. A disappointment to say the least.
The righty was looking to turn things around early against the Padres, and he didn’t disappoint. He put up a strong performance sealing a series victory for the Cardinals. Mikolas gave up runs in the second and fourth, but that’s all the Padres could muster. He pitched six innings, allowing only two runs and seven hits. The performance showed what he is capable of. Cardinal fans everywhere are hoping that this is the version of Mikolas they will see more often than not.
Can the Cardinals’ Rotation Compete for a Title?
The moves the front office made this past season felt like a stop-gap measure at best. The additions of veteran inning eaters to short-term contracts didn’t really improve the team much. Mozeliak and company once again seem to be content treading water, hoping to sneak into the playoffs in a weak division. While the addition of Gray is an obvious upgrade, it will take more than that to be a true contender for a World Series title.
