Early troubles loom for the St. Louis Cardinals due to their pitching staff lacking the star quality needed to compete, especially after finishing last in the National League Central.
Despite Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak’s significant signing of ace Sonny Gray to a three-year, $75 million deal, the other additions to the starting pitching lineup fell short of expectations. Mozeliak’s emphasis on overhauling the pitching staff didn’t seem fulfilled, leading to criticism for not doing enough. Now, with Gray’s mild hamstring strain potentially affecting his availability for Opening Day, the team’s outlook appears even more precarious.
Without Gray, the Cardinals’ rotation will rely on Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and possibly Zack Thompson or Matthew Liberatore. On paper, this group appears subpar.
Gray was not only anticipated to lead the pitching staff but also to continue his impressive performance, as evidenced by his second-place finish in the American League Cy Young voting last season. His absence means the team will miss his ability to challenge formidable opponents like the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day.
Although the exact timeline for Gray’s return remains uncertain, the fact that he likely won’t miss significant time is crucial considering the lack of depth in the St. Louis pitching roster.
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