Cardinals have rough end to May, looking forward to June

Miles Mikolas
Miles Mikolas / Dilip Vishwanat/GettyImages
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A much improved May for the Cardinals could lead to a massive start to the summer months. Their last two series against the Guardians and Royals raise concerns about their readiness for the rest of summer.

The Cardinals turned things around dramatically in May, going 15-13. This was much better after a disastrous April in which they were 10-19.

But the Memorial Day weekend did not go well for the team. The Cardinals went 1-2 against the Guardians and 1-1 against the Royals. After a two-and-a-half-week stretch in which the Cardinals seemed to turn things around for the better, the team looked sluggish, as if they were playing on fumes.

After 19 straight games, it's understandable. Somehow, the Cardinals got two consecutive days off before heading to Pittsburgh for a weekend set starting Friday. The way this team has been struggling, it would seem the Cardinals need more than two days off.

Hopefully, the two days off will bring about some changes for the team. Nothing too drastic. The team should decide how they want to proceed with their rotation. Will they keep a six-man rotation or move to a five-man rotation? Will Steven Matz be transferred to the bullpen to make way for Matthew Liberatore to solidify his rotation spot?

Do the Cardinals need to have three catchers on the active roster? Willson Contreras has earned the everyday catching duties, with Andrew Knizer easily sliding into the backup role. Tres Barrera is taking a roster spot that could go to someone more deserving of the slot. Jordan Walker has earned a shot at returning to St. Louis.

Luken Baker has been doing so well at AAA Memphis that it's unfathomable that the team couldn't make a spot for him. It would have been interesting to see if the Cardinals would have tried to get Baker some experience in the outfield. Baker, unfortunately, is only experienced as a first baseman and designated hitter. Baker would be a different backup to Goldschmidt and could provide power as a designated hitter for the Cardinals. It would be exciting to have his bat in the Cardinals lineup, especially at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Which stars are shining brightly for the Cardinals?

While the Cardinals did struggle in the Memorial Day weekend sets, the team did have some outstanding performers.

During Friday's game against the Guardians, the Cardinals were already out of it before they began scoring runs. In the sixth inning, Nolan Arenado hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Lars Nootbaar. Alec Burleson hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Brendan Donovan. Nootbaar doubled to left field, scoring Tommy Edman. The Cardinals lost 4-3 on Friday.

The pitchers looked good during Saturday's game in which the Cardinals won 2-1. Jack Flaherty threw seven innings. He gave up seven hits, a walk, and one earned run while striking out four batters. Andre Pallante pitched two-thirds of an inning. He gave up a hit and a walk and struck out one batter. Ryan Helsley earned the win for the Cardinals after pitching 1.1 innings, striking out one batter. Giovanny Gallegos earned his sixth save of the season, pitching the tenth inning.

Brendan Donovan scored all the runs Saturday. Donovan knocked his fifth home run of the season on a fly to right field. In the tenth inning, he sped home from third thanks to a passed ball by David Fry.

Ryan Helsley couldn't save a three home run performance from the offense Sunday.

In the fifth inning, Alec Burleson hit a homer to right field, traveling 361 feet at 105.3 mph. Andrew Knizner knocked a homer on a fly to left field 379 feet at 103.1 mph. Paul Goldschmidt hit the third home run of the inning on a fly to left-center field, traveling 413 feet at 103 mph.

In the ninth inning, Jose Ramirez hit a double to center field, scoring Myles Straw and Steven Kwan for a walk-off winner off Helsley. The Guardians won 4-3.

Adam Wainwright got his first loss of the season, pitching five innings. He gave up nine hits, two walks, and three earned runs. He did strike six batters. Steven Matz pitched 2.2 innings, giving up two hits and one earned run. He did strike out four batters. Drew VerHagen pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up five hits, one walk, and three earned runs. He did strike out one batter. Chris Stratton pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out one batter.

Miles Mikolas is now 4-1 on the season after pitching eight innings Tuesday. He gave up three hits and one walk while striking out ten batters.

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Arenado hit a double to left field, scoring Goldschmidt in the sixth inning of Tuesday's game. Nolan Gorman hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Tommy Edman. The Cardinals won 2-1.

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