Cardinals’ Series Win Against Padres Highlights Commitment to Quality Starts
The St. Louis Cardinals demonstrated their commitment to quality starts in their recent three-game series against the San Diego Padres. The Cardinals strategically structured their rotation this year with durability as a desired trait. They aimed to equip a rotation that can rack up innings and keep the bullpen fresh.
In the first two games of the series, Kyle Gibson and Miles Mikolas notched back-to-back quality starts, a feat accomplished only nine times by last year’s team. Gibson made his Cardinal debut by spinning seven innings in a 6-2 win, allowing only two runs, four hits, and two walks with four strikeouts. Mikolas followed with his own strong performance, scattering seven hits over six innings with a walk and four strikeouts in a 5-2 victory.
While the Cardinals fell short of completing the sweep in the third game, Zack Thompson managed to grind out five innings of two-run ball, despite lacking command. These outings underscored the importance of having a rotation that can eat up innings and keep the bullpen workload manageable.
St. Louis posted just 48 quality starts last year, ranking in the bottom third of the league. However, when they did record quality starts, they usually fared well. The Cardinals boasted a 35-13 record last year when their starter recorded at least six innings and allowed three runs or fewer. This successful model is what they hope to stick to in 2024, but with more frequency.
During free agency, the Cardinals targeted pitchers known for their ability to make starts and eat innings, such as Gibson and Lance Lynn. Combined with Mikolas, who recorded at least 200 innings last year, these pitchers will play a crucial role in the team’s success. Steven Matz, who had injury concerns last season, is being built up conservatively. Sonny Gray is still on the mend but could make his Cardinals debut as early as April 15 against the Oakland Athletics.
In the meantime, the Cardinals will rely on Zack Thompson, whose velocity has been down significantly in his starts this year. Thompson, who sat mid-90s with his fastball last season, hasn’t topped 94 mph this year. He is working closely with pitching coach Dusty Blake to address the timing issue causing the velocity drop. Despite this, Thompson has shown poise and managed to battle through tough situations.
The Cardinals’ success in their series against the Padres highlighted the importance of quality starts from their rotation. In their four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, none of the starters recorded a quality start, resulting in a 1-3 record for the Cardinals. However, a stronger performance from the rotation in San Diego led to a series win. This serves as a model for the Cardinals to follow throughout the season.
While it is still early in the 162-game season, the Cardinals have demonstrated the impact their starting pitching staff can have on their success. By prioritizing quality starts and equipping a rotation that can eat up innings, they aim to keep their bullpen fresh and secure more victories on their path to success.