What is different this year, however, is the roster. Of the 28 players who will be on it Friday night when the Cardinals open a three-game set here with the Chicago Cubs, only 13 Cardinals were on the active roster at this time last season.
Just four of them are pitchers — Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Giovanny Gallegos and the rediscovered Jake Woodford, who was a mainstay in the September run of last year.
The other nine players on both clubs on this date are Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Yadier Molina, Tyler O’Neill, Tommy Edman, Paul DeJong, Dylan Carlson, Andrew Knizner and Lars Nootbaar.