Comparing the St. Louis Cardinals lineup to playoff teams

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 11, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The home run was the 697th of Pujols career, moving him to 4th place all time in MLB home runs. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 11, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The home run was the 697th of Pujols career, moving him to 4th place all time in MLB home runs. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Apr 25, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (3) flips his bat after striking out against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (3) flips his bat after striking out against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Mets

  1.  CF Brandon Nimmo
  2.  RF Starling Marte
  3.  SS Francisco Lindor
  4.  1B Pete Alonso 
  5.  DH Darin Ruf/Daniel Vogelbach
  6.  LF Mark Canha 
  7.  2B Jeff McNeil
  8.  3B Eduardo Escobar 
  9.  C Tomas Nido 

The New York Mets lineup is much improved in 2022, and is probably one of the more underrated lineups in the league. Their star studded rotation gets most of the attention, but their lineup can compete with most in baseball.

Offseason additions Eduardo Escobar and Starling Marte have been huge for the Mets all year long, and trade deadline acquisitions Darin Ruf, Daniel Vogelbach, and Mark Canha have deepened their lineup for postseason action.

Still, the Cardinals have the edge here. Their top two hitters, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, are clearly better than Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. When stacking up the supporting cast of each team, the Mets may have the edge here, but guys like Albert Pujols, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and Tommy Edman have the ability to change the game just as much as the Mets’ secondary players.

Verdict: St. Louis