3 under-the-radar Cardinals players who will help the most in 2023

The St. Louis Cardinals have a very deep roster, and there will be plenty of opportunities for players to make an impact regardless of whether or not they make the opening day roster.

The team to beat in the National League over the past five seasons has been the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have had deep rosters and deep rotations that were highlighted by Clayton Kershaw and eventual All-Stars.

The 2023 version of the St. Louis Cardinals could mirror some of the most successful Dodger and Cardinal teams of recent seasons that have gone on to have deep playoff runs and win the World Series.

Although the biggest question mark on the team is the lack of a front-line starting pitcher, the depth of every position on the field deserves some attention and praise from general manager John Mozeliak.

There are three players in particular who Cardinals fans should keep an eye on this season that could have a huge impact on whether or not the team can make the deep playoff run that fans have been craving.

1. Jake Woodford

Jake Woodford is quietly having one of the best Spring Training performances among pitchers during the preseason. He has appeared in four games this spring, netting 12.2 innings of work.

In those 12.2 innings, he has recorded one start, eight hits, and has struck out eleven batters while giving up just four runs. He is making a strong case to be involved in a very crowded bullpen in St. Louis and to be on the shortlist for a starting role if a pitcher goes down.

The 26-year-old is entering his fourth big league season, and through all four seasons as a major leaguer, he has been up and down from AAA and the majors. He posted a strong season in the bigs last year when he was up in St. Louis, but that didn't stop the Cardinals from continually sending him down.

He made just one start for the Cardinals last year and made appearances in 27 games overall. He concluded his 2022 campaign with a 4-0 record, a 2.23 ERA, and posted 24 strikeouts in 48.1 innings of work.

Even more impressive than his ability to limit his earned run total to 12 runs was his ability to keep the ball in the yard. He allowed one home run last season and has given up 15 over his three-year big league career.

There are many question marks in the Cardinals rotation. There are injury-prone players and players who have not proven that they can be consistently relied upon in St. Louis.

Like it or not, Woodford is pitching his way on the shortlist of taking a full-time starting rotation role next season, given the lack of pitchers under contract after the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

3. Steven Matz

Steven Matz was a prize offseason addition to the Cardinals rotation last year after winning 14 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. After a disappointing start to his Cardinals career, he is primed for a bounce-back season.

In 2023 for the Cardinals, Matz recorded a 5-3 record with a 5.25 ERA and made just 10 starts. At the end of the season when he regained his health, he was featured out of the bullpen as both a short and long-term relief option.

He is the only pitcher who is signed past the 2023 season, making him the team's ace as of the end of the 2023 campaign. There are a lot of things riding on Matz finding his 2021 form, where he struck out 144 batters.

His start to spring training is a reason for optimism. He has made one start in Grapefruit League play and has thrown 6.2 innings overall. He has given up three hits, a solo home run, and has struck out nine batters.

There has hardly ever been a question about Matz's ability to be a top of the rotation starter, and if he is healthy for most of the season, the Cardinals could be getting a top starting pitcher from their own organization.