St. Louis Cardinals: Finally there are some offensive changes

With their backs against the wall, the St. Louis Cardinals are finally trotting out a different starting lineup. Is it too late?

The St. Louis Cardinals are down 0-3 in the NLCS to the Washington Nationals and Tuesday’s game could be the final one for the 2019 Cardinals.

The problem the Cardinals have been having this series is abundantly clear as the offense has been non-existent. The Nationals pitching staff has just been too good and the Cardinals bats can’t keep up.

After losing the first three games of the series without any big changes to the lineup, it seems the Cardinals are finally trying something different.

The biggest change is that finally, Dexter Fowler is getting a break. After Monday’s game, Fowler now has two hits in 33 at-bats this postseason which is good for a .061/.139/.230 slash line. And yet, day in and day out, Fowler has been batting leadoff for this team.

More from St Louis Cardinals News

• Cardinals Rumors: 3 pros and cons of signing Carlos Rodon
• Cardinals: Here is Willson Contreras’ first message for St. Louis fans
• How do the St. Louis Cardinals stack up with Willson Contreras?
• Cardinals: The insane asking price the Athletics had for Sean Murphy
• St. Louis Cardinals: Ask me anything with Josh Jacobs – 12/8

Whether the move is because of Mike Shildt having a change of heart, or because the Cardinals are facing a lefty in Patrick Corbin doesn’t matter to me.

This offense has been horrible and a change was needed, so here it is. Is this change happening too late? Probably. Will this change help? Who knows.

This change will hopefully get the team a win today and maybe just help save some face and avoid the sweep.

Jose Martinez has still been the most productive hitter during the NLCS and moving him up to the second spot in the order should be a big change in and of itself. Tommy Edman’s on-base skill and speed at the top of the order should also be an improvement. This is also Harrison Bader’s chance at redemption after being pulled from the lineup in the NLDS.

This is probably going to be too little too late, even if the team does win today. This change would’ve probably been best after Game 2, but a change too late is better than no change at all in my opinion.

Today it all comes down to whether or not the Cardinals can beat their biggest problem all season: the slow pitching lefty. If they do, they live to see another day.