The St. Louis Cardinals head into Tuesday riding a league-best nine-game winning streak, with Nolan Arenado noting that this year’s team has a noticeably different energy compared to recent seasons.
Initially seen as a team focused on rebuilding, the Cardinals have caught fire and are now serious contenders for the NL Central crown.
Their offense, ranked in the top 10 in MLB by WAR, has fueled their surge after a slow start in April. One of their early struggles—road games—has turned around significantly. They won just four of 16 road contests in April but have already claimed four out of five on the road in May, including four straight.
“We’re excited to be at the park,” Arenado told Katie Woo of The Athletic. “It’s the first time in a few years it feels like we’re showing up expecting to win, not just hoping things go our way. The vibe is definitely different.”
The Cardinals have reinserted themselves into the thick of the division race and are showing no signs of cooling off.
Though the bullpen remains a concern—ranking 18th as of Tuesday—it has shown signs of improvement. Combined with their explosive offense, the team is managing to overcome that weakness.
If their momentum continues, expect St. Louis to be buyers at the trade deadline, aiming to add pieces for a postseason push and return to October baseball.
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