The St. Louis Blues
Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
To say the St. Louis Cardinals have been having a rough year is an understatement. Only four pitchers have Earned Run Averages under four, (Miles Mikolas, Giovanny Gallegos, Chris Statton, and Ryan Helsley). Steven Matz and Adam Wainwright have ERAs reaching six with only Paul Goldschmidt hitting in the range of .300 at .292 with Nolan Gorman 20 points below.
What is going on?
One main issue for them has been winning one-run games. At this time last year, the Cardinals were 7-5 in one-run contests during 55 regular season games. This year, they are 6-14 over the same span of time, though they have played six more games. It seems that anytime they have a lead, no one can be tasked to hold it down, but not all the blame can be put on the pitchers.
From June 3rd- June 5th, which were games lost by one run, the Cardinals were 3-18 with runners in scoring position and had an an average of .166. They are dragging their heels through the mud, with only themselves to blame.
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
“Everyone is frustrated. I don’t know what to say. Fans are frustrated, too, I know.”
Now the Cardinals reside eight games back of the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates and have a steady hill to climb if they want to redeem any portion of this season. However, it is only June. They have over half the season to right the ship, but all the team members need to step up. The mainstay hitters have to find their grooves: Arenado, Contreras, and Edman. All of their pitchers need to take a step back and breathe. They made it here for a reason, they are the best of the best, but consistently losing these close games is pulling the fans away from cheers and onto boos.
