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All indications seem to hint that the St. Louis Cardinals may begin the 2018 season utilizing a 6-man rotation.
The St. Louis Cardinals experienced a gluttony of outfielders in 2017 and this spring they seem to be replacing this with a gluttony of pitchers. This does not mean that all of the names in the cornucopia will break camp with the Cardinals, but the big names seem to indicate the organization is contemplating starting the season with six men in the starting rotation.
The likes of Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha, Luke Weaver, and Miles Mikolas reported to pitchers and catchers day as the presumed starting five. There seemed to be no competition for these starting spots, right?
Just prior to pitchers and catchers report date, the St. Louis Cardinals added Bud Norris. While he may no longer be considered a bonafide starter, Norris’ addition allows the club to consider a 6-man rotation.
Adding Tyler Lyons as a consideration for starting and one can see that the Cardinals may- in fact- start the season with a six-man rotation.
But wait, there’s more…
Jack Flaherty and Alex Reyes could fill in at any point as well. This means that the St. Louis Cardinals have the following menu choices for their starting rotation:
- Carlos Martinez
- Michael Wacha
- Adam Wainwright
- Luke Weaver
- Miles Mikolas
- Bud Norris
- Tyler Lyons
- Jack Flaherty
- Alex Reyes
The question remains as to whether this is the right choice for the team. Let’s examine the positives and negatives surrounding utilizing a 6-man rotation at the start of the 2018 season for the St. Louis Cardinals.