9 surprise standout performances in Cardinals series with O’s

Miles Mikolas

Miles Mikolas looked sharp earning his third win of the season Wednesday.

Mikolas pitched seven innings, giving up four hits, with one walk and an earned run. He was able to strike out three while inducing nine swings and misses. He topped out hitting 96.4 mph.

In the fifth inning, Robinson Chirinos knocked a double to second baseman Tommy Edman. The fly allowed Jorge Mateo to score the lone run against Mikolas.

Mikolas is on a good track. Hopefully, this continues as we get deeper into this season.

Juan Yepez

Yepez is making it hard for Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol to not find a spot for him in the lineup. He just keeps making big, impactful hits. After about a week, Yepez is doing a good job in making sure he sticks with the major league club for good.

On Tuesday, Yepez was 1-for-3 with a strike out. He hit a single 85-feet at 107 mph.

On Wednesday, Yepez was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a strikeout.

He hit his first home run in front of the home crowd at Busch Stadium in the second inning. It was his second homer of the season with the fly to left-center field off Spenser Watkins. The homer traveled 412-feet at 103.7 mph.

On Thursday, Yepez was 0-for-3, with a walk.

Tommy Edman

Tommy Edman was 1-for-4 on Tuesday, with three strike outs.

Edman was 1-for-5 on Wednesday with two RBI. Edman singled in the fourth inning on a liner to left field scoring Harrison Bader. He moved up to second base on a throwing error from Tyler Nevin. In the eighth inning, Edman grounded out to score Albert Pujols.

On Thursday, Edman was 1-for-4 on Thursday.

Edman has struggled some at the plate but he mostly comes up big to score runners or move them around the bases. He’s also golden at second base. The Cardinals do not want to lose that defense.

Brendan Donovan

On Tuesdsay, Donovan was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. In the bottom of the ninth, Donovan knocked the first home run of his career on a fly to right field off of Dillon Tate. The homer traveled 387-feet at 98.4 mph.

On Wednesday, Donovan was 2-for-2 with three runs, two walks, and two RBI.

Donvan knocked a double in the second inning on a liner to center field. He scored Yadier Molina and Corey Dickerson. The double traveled 390-feet at 100.3 mph.

Donovan scored the Cardinals tenth run of the game when Kramer Robertson grounded out in the eighth inning.

Donvan is making a great impression in his first venture with the big club. He  looks great wherever the Cardinals put him. He’s mostly filled in at shortstop after the demotion of Paul DeJong to Memphis. While DeJong is working to get his hitting on track, Donovan is getting some hits. The Cardinals made a great decision bringing him up to help.

Harrison Bader

On Tuesday, Bader was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Bader hit an inside-the-park home run, his third of the season, on a fly to left-center filed. The homer allowed Molina to make a made dash to score with Bader on his heels.

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Bader’s knock traveled 398-feet at 102.3 mph.

On Wednesday, he was 1-for-4 with a run and two strikeouts. On Thursday, Bader had a rest day.

Bader is a fun, dynamic player. But, he’s definitely struggled at the plate recently. While it may have to do with a shortened spring training and late start to the season, Bader must keep grnding away and improve. Dylan Carlson has filled in nicely for him in center and while Juan Yepez is making a good impression whereever he plays, Lars Nootbaar is chomping at the bit to return to the big club.

Jake Walsh

Prior to his debut, the Cardinals Player Development twitter account noted, “Walsh, 27, has pitched nine games in relief for the Memphis Redbirds with a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) and is a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities. He has fanned 16 and walked five, posting a 1.00 WHIP. The 2017 16th-round draft pick will make his MLB debut with his first appearance.”

And, Walsh looked great in that debut with the Cardinals on Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1524576848126091265?s=20&t=fJ_WZDkdFwEEI7pP-zZD4g

He pitched two innings, giving up one hit as he struck out four. He also induced four swings and misses.

Walsh has great stuff and can hopefully stick around to provide late inning help for the Cardinals.

Paul Goldschmidt

On Tuesday, Goldschmidt was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

On Wednesday, he was 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI, and a strikeout. In the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game, Goldy hit his eighth double of the season on a fly to left field, scoring Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman. The double traveled at an amazing 405-feet at 111.5 mph.

In the sixth inning, Goldschmidt singled to center field, scoring Brendan Donovan.

On Thursday, Goldschmidt was 1-for-4, but struck out twice.

Goldschmidt is showing signs of breaking out of his typical slow start. Hopefully, we see Goldschmidt continue to focus in and get some big hits and runs.

Nolan Arenado

On Tuesday, Arenado was a surprising 0-for-4 two two strikeouts, leaving two runners on base.

On Wednesday, he was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout. Arenado knocked his tenth double of the season on a liner to center field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt. The double traveled 308-feet at 90 mph.

As usual, Arenado looked excellent in this play, defending the hot corner.

On Thursday, Arenado was 1-for-3. Arenado knocked a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Tommy Edman.

Arenado had a hot start to this season but has slowed down in recent games. Hopefully this is just a temporary drought to his big hits. While it’s awesome that his defense is still on point, the Cardinals need that bat to heat up again.

The sacrifice fly on Thursday is a good indication he is grinding away to get back on track.

Dylan Carlson

On Tuesday, Carlson was 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

Carlson was 1-for-4 on Thursday. In the seventh inning of Thursday’s game, Carlson knocked his second home run of the season on a fly to left field. Just before Carlson came to bat, Tyler O’Neill grounded into a double play with Corey Dickerson on base after being hit by a pitch..

Carlson’s home run traveled 403-feet at 102.6 mph.

Carlson came up big for the Cardinals on Thursday. The home run was huge on and he stepped up nicely filling in for Harrison Bader. Carlson has had a slow start to the season too but is definitely showing signs of breaking out. It will be exciting to watch.