03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 40
MLB ’24 NL CENTRAL PREVIEW ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Sunday, March 24, 2024 40
2023: 71-91, fifth place | Manager: Oliver Marmol (third season) | Opening Day: March 28 at Los Angeles Dodgers
OVERVIEW
TOP HITTERS
1B Paul Goldschmidt (.268, 25 HRs, 80 RBIs), 2B Nolan Gorman
(.236, 27, 76), C Willson Contreras (.264, 20, 67), RF Jordan
Walker (.276, 16, 51), 2B Brendan Donovan (.284, 11, 34), CF Lars
Nootbaar (.261, 14, 46), LF Tommy Edman (.248, 13, 47, 27 SBs).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Sonny Gray (8-8, 2.79 ERA with Twins), RH Miles Mikolas
(9-13, 4.78), RH Lance Lynn (13-11, 5.73 with White Sox and
Dodgers), RH Kyle Gibson (15-9, 4.73 with Orioles), LH Steven
Matz (4-7, 3.86).
ONE TO WATCH
3B Nolan Arenado
(.266, 26, 93)
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Ryan Helsley (3-4, 2.45 ERA, 14 saves), RH Giovanny Gallegos (2-4, 4.42, 10 saves), LH JoJo Romero (4-2, 3.68), RH
Andre Pallante (4-1, 4.76), RH Andrew Kittredge (2-0, 3.09 with
Rays), RH Keynan Middleton (2-2, 3.38 with White Sox and
Yankees), LH Matthew Liberatore (3-6, 5.25).
OUTLOOK
The Cardinals are far more accustomed to playing in the
postseason than finishing 20 games below .500, so not
surprisingly, their last-place flop in 2023 led to some lavish
offseason spending to address their biggest shortcomings.
The Cardinals added Crawford for some experience
at shortstop, but they would prefer if
former top-50 prospect Masyn
Winn lives up to expectations.
He hit just .172 with two
homers and 12 RBIs in 37
games after making
his big-league debut
last season.
— Associated Press
JEFF ROBERSON/AP
HE’S HERE
RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Lance Lynn, SS Brandon Crawford, RHP Keynan Middleton,
RHP Andrew Kittredge, DH Matt Carpenter, RHP Nick Robertson.
He’s Outta Here
RHP Adam Wainwright (left), LF Tyler O’Neill, RHP Jake Woodford, RHP Dakota Hudson, 1B Juan Yepez.
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