The St. Louis Cardinals are off to a strong start this season, currently on pace for 90 wins as of April 17. This performance comes despite expectations that the team would focus more on rebuilding under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
The unexpected early success has drawn attention because the Cardinals were not expected to compete at a high level this year. The organization is in its first year of what many see as a reconstruction process, yet the team has been winning more games than it loses.
Several factors have contributed to the team’s performance so far. The Cardinals have shown increased aggression on the basepaths, attempting plays they had not tried in previous seasons. Manager Oliver Marmol said, “We had to do a lot of the little things.” Statistics from Baseball Savant indicate only one baserunning run added so far, but other metrics suggest higher effectiveness.
Another key element is an improved walk rate across the lineup. The team’s walk rate stands at 11.2 percent, up significantly from previous years. Players such as Iván Herrera and Alec Burleson have seen notable increases in their walk rates compared to last season.
Jordan Walker’s turnaround has also played a major role in the team’s offense. Once considered among baseball’s most disappointing players last year, Walker now leads or ties for Major League Baseball’s lead in home runs and total bases and is enjoying an extended hitting streak.
On pitching, while strikeouts remain low—at just 6.09 per nine innings—the rotation has managed by limiting walks and relying on solid defense instead of overpowering hitters with strikeouts.
Despite these strengths, there are signs that some aspects may not be sustainable over a full season: “If the Cardinals stay undefeated in one-run games, they’re winning the World Series. But that is, um, not going to happen.” Still, observers note that this year’s team appears more resilient than expected—a step forward during what was anticipated as a transitional period.
