Miles Mikolas has been a frequent target of frustration for St. Louis Cardinals fans in 2024, largely due to his disappointing performance and the team’s decision to keep him in the rotation instead of giving younger pitchers a shot.
Entering the 2025 season, Mikolas was widely viewed as the weak link in the Cardinals’ starting staff. He was coming off a rough year, posting a 5.35 ERA over 171.2 innings, and many believed the team should have cut their losses by releasing him or designating him for assignment, despite the financial hit.
Reminded myself the Cardinals are paying Miles Mikolas $18 Mill/year to suck ass and got so pissed.. may end up leaving work I’m rattled
— Whopper (@WhopperDouble44) May 8, 2025
As the second-highest-paid starter on the roster, Mikolas is owed $18.5 million before likely heading to free agency after this season. While both his performance and contract haven’t aged particularly well, his solid — if unspectacular — showing this year has exceeded expectations somewhat, and the intense fan backlash appears to be cooling.
Mikolas has made real adjustments to stay afloat in today’s brand of baseball.
So far this season, Mikolas has posted a 4.76 ERA with a 3.65 FIP, allowing just one home run over 34 innings. After a rough outing against the Red Sox on April 6, he’s bounced back with an impressive 2.77 ERA across his last five starts, largely thanks to a new strategy of throwing more pitches just off the plate.
His 8.1% walk rate is the highest he’s had in his seven seasons with the Cardinals, and paired with a career-low 12.2% strikeout rate, it might not seem like a sustainable formula. Still, Mikolas has found new effectiveness with a revamped slider that now shows more cut when thrown up in the zone.
Opponents are batting .234 against the pitch—down from a .301 average last year. Though hitters are swinging less often due to his reduced strike-zone presence, they’re also making less solid contact.
I cannot think of a tweet mean enough to show my disdain for Miles Mikolas.
— Mel (@MelSTLSports) May 6, 2025
It’s a delicate balance in an era where strikeouts are essential, but Mikolas has managed to maintain that equilibrium in recent starts.
Even with this turnaround, many fans remain skeptical of the 36-year-old. Calls to part ways with Mikolas were justifiable before 2025 and early this season, but with injuries decimating the team’s minor league depth, cutting him is no longer a viable option.
While Mikolas may not return to his 2022 All-Star form and remains overpaid, he’s not showing signs of becoming this year’s version of Adam Wainwright either. Given his ability to adjust and stay competitive, he deserves some recognition.
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