5 St. Louis Cardinals to watch in NL wild card game

Who will help continue the St. Louis Cardinals’ amazing run in the NL Wild Card game?

There have been a number of players the St. Louis Cardinals have rallied behind as they clawed their way into contention for the NL Wild Card game. From popular veterans to young superstars or older pitchers getting another chance at success, this 2021 Cardinals team has been incredible.

After struggling mightily to even get to this NL Wild Card game, it seems frustrating for both sides that this is a one-and-done game. Both NL West teams had over 100 wins – the Giants with 107 wins and the Dodgers with 106. The Dodgers will play in this one-game playoff with a 90-win Cardinals team.

That’s baseball!

Manager Mike Shildt and the Cardinals will try to come up with the best roster of players to take with them to Los Angeles for the game Wednesday. It will be interesting to see who makes the roster and who doesn’t. What pitchers does he want with the team? What option off the bench would be best?

Having already clinched their spot, Shildt got the opportunity to rest many of his starting core. They will be primed and ready to go, fueled by an amazing September that included a historic 17-game winning streak. This club definitely enjoyed their winning streak and looks to take some of that momentum with them for a long stay in the playoffs.

The Cardinals want more than just Wednesday. They want an extended ride into a remarkable season. They want to be another version of the St. Louis Cardinals that just won’t go away. They had a hard season and seem to be clicking at the right time.

Let’s see how far they can take this improbably run. Let’s discuss who could be some players that will help them Wednesday to take this run a step further.

Tyler O’Neill

Cardinals left fielder Tyler O’Neill has had an amazing season. O’Neill earned him NL Player of the Month honors in September. More accolades are definitely on their way for O’Neill. He hopes to ride this momentum for an October to remember.

For the past 30 days, O’Neill is hitting .343/.391/.762 with an OPS of 1.153. Unreal! He’s had 12 home runs, a triple, and six doubles, with 28 RBI, and five stolen bases. This season, O’Neill had three homers in games against the Dodgers. One of O’Neill’s more amazing defensive play’s was against the Dodgers. Remember his walk-off catch at the wall at Dodger Stadium?

O’Neill has had an unreal season. He will definitely continue this amazing pace into October and beyond. This man has proven himself to be a star for the Cardinals.

Jack Flaherty

Imagine having the season Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty had. It all started in Los Angeles when the Cardinals were playing the Dodgers in late May, early June. After an amazing 8-0 start, Flaherty went down with an injury to his oblique that put him on the injured list for a couple of months.

When he returned in August, one of his starts was cut short due to arm issues.

Flaherty had a rough season. But during the past few weeks, he’s worked with the pitching coaches on a plan to build back his strength. He last pitched one inning on Sunday afternoon’s rain-shortened game against the Cubs. He had to strikeouts in the outing.

Flaherty has traveled with the team to Los Angeles and will be available in the city where he grew up and graduated from Harvard-Westlake High School.

While the hope is that Wainwright goes deep and pitches a gem, Flaherty is the guy you want available to help out in an all-hands-on-deck situation for the club. He will be focused and ready for whatever the team needs from him.

Even if Flaherty isn’t needed Wednesday, he is the ultimate competitor you want available on your pitching staff. He will be available for October. As he would say, “Don’t Think.” This is certain.

Nolan Arenado

You know that Nolan Arenado is already hyped to be in the playoffs during his first season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

This is why he wanted to be traded to the Cardinals. To be playing in a playoff game close to where he grew up in southern California? If it wasn’t already, this has to be a dream come true for him. Arenado will undoubtedly be fired up and ready to put on a show for the Cardinals to take them deeper into the playoffs.

Arenado ended the season hitting .255/.312/.494 with an OPS of .806. And people thought he would have a hard time adjusting to playing outside of Coors Field! He had 34 home runs and 105 RBI. Just amazing. He feels like he can do more.

Going into the postseason with a player of Arenado’s caliber is something Cardinal fans have wanted.  It will be fun to see just how well Arenado does. Arenado wants to win. So do the Cardinals. This is going to be fun to watch.

Paul Goldschmidt

One could say that Paul Goldschmidt has had his best season in 2021 since joining the Cardinals in a trade. He ended the regular season hitting .294/.365/.514 with an OPS of .879. He’s had 31 home runs, 99 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.

He was amazingly clutch for the Cardinals during their historic 17-game winning streak – launching towering home runs in New York, Milwaukee, Chicago, and at home in St. Louis.  You could tell the usually reserved man was relaxing and having fun with his young teammates who look up to him and want to model what he does to prepare. Goldschmidt’s wall is down, he is having fun and he wants this fun to continue.

The end of the 2021 regular season hints that we will see a huge performance from Goldschmidt in the playoffs. Here’s hoping we see what Goldschmidt is fully capable of doing. Here’s hoping Goldschmidt, too, will have an October to remember.

Here’s hoping things come up golden for Goldschmidt and the Cardinals on Wednesday and through October! Let’s go, Cardinals!