The Cardinals don’t feature a dominant starter like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer or Sandy Alcantara in their rotation.
Beyond Ryan Helsley, there hasn’t been much consistent swing-and-miss muscle in their bullpen either.
But the Cardinals have upgraded their arms supply through trades and promotions, so a strong collective effort could earn them the division title and another ticket to postseason play.
While Albert Pujols’ bid for 700 homers and the MVP-caliber play of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado will rightfully command our attention, what happens on the mound will decide this team’s fate.
Manager Oliver Marmol must play the matchup game while seeking winning performances from as many hurlers as possible.