The Cardinals have been scuffling as of late.
They’re 5-5 in their last 10 games played and suffered their first 3 game losing streak of the ’15 season last week. Saturday night’s loss was particularly tough to swallow, since it was a 1 run game and the Cardinals still had 12 outs to try to tie or go ahead.
Even the Cubs were feeling frisky:
One of the best tweets ever…Nice work Cubbies. #MLB #Royals #Cubs pic.twitter.com/4AHMhoMiVY
— Jason Grill (@JasonGrill) May 24, 2015
The Cubs have lost both games they’ve played since this Tweet, though. And Jhonny got to work on Memorial Day. So baseball’s equilibrium has been re-calibrated correctly.
Let’s talk turkey.
Tonight’s start by Jaime Garcia might be the most important one by a Cardinals pitcher all year.
Not from an on-field perspective, but for the leverage for the club moving forward.
With Carlos Martinez producing a very good start on Monday, Garcia’s ability to replicate his success from his first MLB start of the season last week would put the Cardinals in a position where they don’t have to deal for a starting pitcher ASAP.
They can roll with Wacha/Lynn/Lackey/Martinez/Garcia for a couple of weeks while Mo explores all the options available.
He can pick his spots.
But if Garcia blows up? Then the vultures will be flying lower overhead. Low enough where the Cardinals can’t ignore them much longer. They’ll still give Garcia another few starts to get right, sure – assuming he’s healthy.
Doesn’t change the fact that the team will be negotiating from a weaker position.
The Cardinals have a +56 run differential this season. 4 better than any other team in MLB and 10 more than any in the NL. For the most part, they’re scoring runs when they need to. The starting rotation is the top concern as we pass the quarter pole of season.
And Mr. Garcia’s start tonight might not be the fork in the road, but it’s the start of a fork looking shape up ahead.
Photo: MLB
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
