ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Cardinals' last four days have certainly seemed rough, with the team losing two out of three to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen Banks Park, and losing the first of a three-game series to the Houston Astros in heartbreaking fashion.
but overall the last couple weeks of Cardinals baseball has been relatively good.
After a seven-game losing streak at the start of May to drop the Cardinals to 15-24, and nine games under .500, the team has significantly played better baseball, amassing a 13-6 record since May 12, with the club's overall record being 28-30, just two games under .500.
"This stretch is closer to what they should be," said Derrick Goold, Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post- Dispatch on The Chris and Amy Show Tuesday. "They are beating teams that are their equal or lesser, and not contending with teams that are their betters. That's where they are at right now."
While the Cardinals did lose the series to the Phillies, and lost the first game of a three-game series to the Astros, he felt the Cardinals have done their jobs at gaining ground during a crucial part of their schedule, with the Cardinals as of Tuesday afternoon, are tied with the Cubs for second in the NL Central and for the third and final wild-card spot.
"They got back close to .500 and kind of flirting with going over .500," said Goold. "But more so, they have clawed up the standings in the National League Central and have gave themselves a chance. When they woke up (Monday), they had a playoff spot, which I don't think a lot of people three weeks ago would've expected."
Goold says while it is hard to envision the Cardinals to be able to compete with the top teams in the National League like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Phillies in the playoffs, the club does need more production for their top players to at least put up a fight.
"For them to compete with the Phillies and some of the other top teams like the Brewers and Dodgers(both who have had success against the Cardinals this season), they need more from their best starters," said Goold. "And they need their stars to be stars. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado need to be a big part of this offense because that is what is expected of them. That is their roles. That is very clear and important right now with the lack of Lars Nootbaar in the big help."
While stars like Goldschmidt and Arenado have seen to struggles this season, the Cardinals have seen some young players step up like Nootbaar before he went on the IL, Masyn Winn, and Nolan Gorman. Goold highlighted Gorman's recent surge of having nine home runs in his last 19 games as having been a positive development for the club.
"Nolan Gorman being on the power binge that he has been on has been a huge help," said Goold. "It's helps cover that left-handed source of production, which has been so key."
