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Was Monday's loss a blip or a reality check for the Cardinals?
The Cardinals lost a tough one in Cincinnati on Monday, though they have been playing a lot better. Was it just a blip on the radar screen, or will it serve as a reality check?
The Cardinals seemed to have figured things out after falling to 15-24 earlier this month. Their recent surge began on Mother's Day when Oli Marmol and Daniel Descalso were tossed from the game in Milwaukee. St. Louis rallied from 3-0 to snap a seven-game losing skid.
Since then, the Cardinals have gone 10-3 and are now just two games under .500 as opposed to nine games under. It's safe to say that things are looking a lot better for the Redbirds as the month of May draws to a close.
However, they lost a tough one on Monday to the Reds, with the only offense coming on a solo home run from Paul Goldschmidt. The offense looked a lot like it has for most of the year, and not on this recent hot stretch.
We've seen the Cardinals cash in on their opportunities, get timely hits, and punch back after falling behind. Unlike last year, this team appears to have fight in them, and you can trust that when they get down, they'll fight to punch back and turn things around.
Yesterday was more of what we saw in April and the beginning of May, which is certainly concerning for the Cardinals and their fans, who are hoping that Monday's loss was a blip on the radar screen and that they'll get going again soon.
Monday's loss could be one of two things. It could be a simple blip, or it could serve as a reality check. In this piece, we'll discuss whether this game was a blip or a sign of things to come.
Monday's loss may be a reality check for Cardinals
During this recent stretch, we've seen the Cardinals beat some teams that have performed quite well. While the Red Sox have struggled a bit, their pitching has been good, and the Cardinals torched the Sox staff for 20 runs in the series. St. Louis also swept the Orioles and the Cubs.
So why could Monday's game serve as a reality check? Well, the Cardinals' offense has been the main issue this season. Despite having stars around Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, the offense has struggled.
Even in the midst of their recent surge, the Cardinals remain at the bottom of the National League in runs scored. Only the White Sox have scored fewer runs than the Cardinals this year. And after winning five in a row against solid teams, a loss to the struggling Reds is certainly deflating.
These are the teams that the Cardinals need to beat. Monday's game was very winnable and the Cardinals just let it slip away. Next, they have to face the Phillies and the Astros to close out their road trip.
It just felt like a game where they beat themselves. They scored early on Goldschmidt's home run and couldn't muster anything after that. They also committed two errors and allowed two unearned runs.
Instead of keeping the win streak alive and reaching .500 for the first time since April 17, they ran into similar issues that cost them games in 2023, and I'm still not fully convinced this team is back yet.
Monday's loss may only be a blip
Now let's tackle the other side of the issue.
While Monday's loss was certainly deflating, there are factors that need to be taken into account before fans freak out. Yes, the Cardinals absolutely should have won the game, but let's dive into some of those factors.
Firstly, all win streaks must come to an end. The Cardinals' recent stretch of play has been very encouraging, to say the least, and all teams, no matter how good or bad, are going to have games like the Cardinals did on Monday where a lot of things go wrong, and it can happen against any team.
Fortunately, the pitchers were able to do their job and keep them in the game. Lance Lynn turned in a quality start, and the bullpen was outstanding. If they can keep that up and the Cardinals bounce back from Monday's disappointment, they should be just fine.
Furthermore, Sunday night's game was delayed almost three hours. The Cardinals didn't leave St. Louis until late, and when they finally arrived at the hotel in Cincinnati, it was 4:15 A.M. Eastern Time. The team had lost an hour and had an afternoon game, so a little rust was to be expected.
Even after Monday's loss, the Cardinals can still get back to .500 by winning the next two games to take the series. That way, they can keep their momentum alive as they head to Philadelphia for the weekend.
Hopefully, a little extra rest after last night's game will get everybody back on track as the Cardinals try to even the series tonight.
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