Wednesday’s stunning comeback latest proof Cardinals season feels magical

This St. Louis Cardinals season feels magical, and Wednesday’s stunning ninth inning comeback underscored exactly why.

At this point, I sound like a broken record. I’ve dubbed the St. Louis Cardinals as a legitimate World Series contender – other MLB insiders have since followed suit – and their 9.5 game lead in the National League Central would seem to confirm that.

But I have never felt stronger about it than today, and the Cardinals’ epic comeback against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday is why. Entering the ninth inning, down 5-1, the Cardinals had their first three batters reach safely against Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan. They eventually scored five runs, winning 6-5, on a two-run double from Tommy Edman that narrowly escaped the leaping glove of Alex Call in left field.

The Cardinals became the first team in baseball this season to win after entering the bottom of the ninth inning trailing by four or more runs, according to ESPN, who noted that teams were a combined 0-817 in such games this season. They are one of three teams to have won over 30+ games since the All-Star Break.

And if Wednesday’s improbable and stunning victory doesn’t indicate that this Cardinals season is magical, I don’t know what will. Because this team has the feel of a unit that can not just make a deep postseason run, but win the entire thing.

The Cardinals have a World Series roster. Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Tyler O’Neill, Tommy Edman and Dylan Carlson on offense. The pitching staff, armed with new additions Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana, are now a formidable unit with Miles Mikolas, Adam Wainwright, Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson.

By now, with 25 games left in the regular season, the Cardinals have all but clinched the division. The playoffs will feature difficult tasks with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves all looking like serious contenders. But St. Louis looks more than ready to be able to compete with them and Wednesday’s game underscores that they should not be counted out under any circumstance.