3 playoff predictions for the St. Louis Cardinals

Here are three predictions that could turn the tide of the playoffs for the St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are nearly ensured to make the postseason this year, with a 99.8% likelihood according to the latest stats. If nothing changes, the Cardinals would face the San Diego Padres in the first round.

The Cardinals have been on an offensive and bullpen downturn as of late, but fans shouldn’t panic. While the Cardinals might not be able to match up with the best teams that will make the postseason, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, it’s really just a matter of which team gets the hottest in October.

That being said, there are several strategies manager Oliver Marmol could take to optimize the team’s chances. Marmol has proven to be a strong manager in his first season at the helm, and Paul Goldschmidt’s and Nolan Arenado’s fantastic seasons have helped propel the Cardinals to the place they’re in now. Albert Pujols’ resurgence in his final season hasn’t hurt, either.

Marmol has shown that he has a quick hook to the bullpen, which is a refreshing change from former managers Mike Matheny and Mike Shildt. Today’s era is dependent on relief pitching, and while the bullpen has sputtered a bit in recent weeks, the back end, at least, remains among the best in baseball.

Ryan Helsley has emerged as one of the top closers in the game in 2022, but Marmol would be wise to use him in high-leverage situations instead of saving him for the ninth inning all the time.

Marmol’s decisions, no matter how minute, will be under a microscope during the postseason. Here are three wise actions I think Marmol will take in the playoffs.

Zack Thompson will play a critical role

Although the Cardinals’ bullpen has struggled of late, relief pitcher Zack Thompson remains a bright spot in his rookie year. Although he is only 24 years old, he should be able to handle the pressures of the playoffs and take on an integral role.

The bridge to reach Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley is a bit rickety, and while Thompson hasn’t been quite as dominant in his past few appearances, he has still shown that he has the arsenal to consistently retire major league hitters. Marmol shouldn’t shy away from the rookie in big spots; he should go to Thompson early and often if the starter is in trouble or doesn’t have his best stuff. He has the skills to shine on the biggest stage.

I can also see Thompson closing games if Helsley pitches in a high-leverage spot to get out of a jam or simply needs a rest. Wherever Thompson pitches, he should thrive.

Jose Quintana will secure the fourth spot

The most interesting battle to watch as the season draws to a close will be who performs better out of Jose Quintana and Jack Flaherty to take the fourth spot in the playoff rotation. While it could come down to the wire, I think Quintana will eke out the rotation spot ahead of Flaherty.

Flaherty was out for most of the season and pitched ineffectively in most of the games he started. Quintana hasn’t set the world on fire in his time with the Cardinals, but he has pitched respectably in the majority of his outings. Flaherty’s next few starts will go a long way toward determining whether he can unseat Quintana in the rotation and relegate him to the bullpen.

Flaherty could be a weapon out of the bullpen with his velocity, and it would be a bit risky to depend on him in the rotatin when he hasn’t pitched much in 2022. While Quintana might not be a stud on the mound, he should serve as an innings eater at the very least.

If Oliver Marmol keeps Albert Pujols in the lineup, uses Zack Thompson effectively, and starts Jose Quintana over Jack Flaherty, the Cardinals have a chance to make a deep postseason run.