As spring training opens, seven pitchers, many of them plausible aces, compete for time on the mound with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Whatever one thinks of the 2019 St. Louis Cardinals, there’s general agreement that their starting rotation is among baseball’s deepest.
Certainly, there are questions, largely having to do with health. A couple are coming off injuries, which will make spring training important as a demonstration of their physical condition.
Still, the Cardinals’ depth chart lists seven plausible rotation starters, all of whom have a legitimate chance to make the opening day roster. Five of them made at least 15 starts in 2018, and the other two both have strong credentials to fit into the mix.
The rotation looks so good that over the winter the Cardinals took the unusual step of trading away Luke Weaver, who made 25 starts for them last season. Of course the return they got for Weaver, All Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, may have influenced their willingness.
Collectively, the five returning regular starters compiled a 3.23 ERA last year. How good was that? The National League average ERA was 4.02. Their average ERA+ was 126, meaning they performed at a rate about 26 percent better than their average counterparts.
They also have youth on their side. The average age of the seven is 27.7, and only one will be above 30 when the season begins. “Five No. 1 starters,” manager Mike Shildt recently told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I know that’s a little bold, but…” he added.
It’s possible that the Mets with Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler, can compete at the top of the rotation. But, assuming St. Louis’ arms stay healthy, it’s less clear that any team goes as deep as the Cardinals in quality starting arms. Let’s take a look at Shildt’s numerous options.