Cardinals struggle in playoff pursuit after tough defeat to Giants
The St. Louis Cardinals suffered a significant setback in their playoff ambitions with an 8-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants, a game that saw them surrender 18 hits. This defeat has left their postseason hopes hanging by a thread, as they now find themselves 6 1/2 games adrift of the San Diego Padres, who currently hold the final National League Wild Card spot.
Challenging Road Ahead
To complicate matters further, the Cardinals are not only trailing the Padres but also face a daunting challenge from three other teams positioned between them and a playoff berth. They are just a game behind both the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks but sit 2 1/2 games behind the Giants, with two more critical matchups against San Francisco looming this weekend.
The situation becomes even more dire when considering the Cardinals’ remaining schedule, which is the toughest in all of baseball with a .550 strength of schedule. Over their last 20 games, they will only face three opponents with records below .500, all of whom are the Reds, currently sitting at 70-71. Adding to the challenge, six of those final games will be against the major league-leading Milwaukee Brewers, while 12 of the remaining contests are against teams currently in playoff positions.
Injuries Pile Up
Injuries have compounded the Cardinals’ struggles. All-Star Brendan Donovan is sidelined, and former Platinum Glove winner Nolan Arenado is also dealing with health issues. Additionally, the loss of slugging first baseman Willson Contreras due to suspension has further weakened their lineup. With these key players unavailable, the path to the playoffs looks increasingly bleak.
Critical Upcoming Games
As the Cardinals gear up for their next two games, Andre Pallante and Sonny Gray are slated to take the mound, aiming to close the gap on San Francisco before heading to Seattle for a series against the Mariners, who are entrenched in their own divisional race.
If the Cardinals cannot secure at least three victories in their next five games, it may only be a matter of time before they are officially ruled out of postseason contention. The urgency is palpable as they face a make-or-break stretch in their season.
