St. Louis Cardinals: Predicting the 26-man roster at the start of spring

Roger Dean Stadium is the spring training home to Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida on July 29, 2019 [GREG LOVETT/palmbeachpost.com]Roger Dean 2020 02
Roger Dean Stadium is the spring training home to Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida on July 29, 2019 [GREG LOVETT/palmbeachpost.com]Roger Dean 2020 02 /
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St. Louis Cardinals
Yadier Molina #4 and Andrew Knizner #7 of the St. Louis Cardinals participate in a live batting practice during the first day of summer workouts at Busch Stadium on July 3, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Batters

2B Tommy Edman

RF Dylan Carlson

1B Paul Goldschmidt

3B Nolan Arenado

SS Paul DeJong

C Yadier Molina

LF Tyler O’Neill

CF Harrison Bader

Pitcher

Bench: Matt Carpenter, Edmundo Sosa, Lane Thomas, Austin Dean, Andrew Knizner

There are so many different ways this lineup will look, so this is just a guess. For now, I see Tommy Edman leading off for the Cardinals in 2021 followed by Dylan Carlson. Now if Edman’s on-base hovers around .300 to .320, expect a change, as my colleague Matt Graves recently wrote about Dylan Carlson leading off by the end of the season.

Expect Lane Thomas to get some more opportunities under Mike Shildt. Thomas was one of the Cardinals hit with COVID-19, and the effects from the virus took a toll on his performance.

Mike Shildt and the Cardinals have some interesting decisions to make. I believe the talent and upside of some of the young pitchers will push the Cardinals to carry an eight-man bullpen and short bench. For now, I see Shildt starting off with O’Neill in left and Carlson in right, but I am intrigued by what Lane Thomas can provide.

Next. Second, not leadoff, should be Dylan Carlson’s home. dark

These predictions are going to either be pretty close or completely off by a mile. Regardless, I am happy actual Spring Training games are drawing near!