The St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching staff has performed adequately in the first 31 games of the 2024 season, and it’s crucial that they maintain this level of performance as the team aims to improve its overall performance.
The revamped rotation, spearheaded by Sonny Gray, who was the runner-up for the American League Cy Young award last season, has surpassed expectations. However, recent injury news has raised concerns for the team’s future prospects.
The announcement that Steven Matz is undergoing an MRI due to back tightness is worrying, indicating the possibility of another key player being sidelined for an extended period, possibly requiring surgery. Additionally, Drew Rom, who has been dealing with bicep tendinitis, is likely to undergo shoulder surgery soon, according to reports from Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This setback follows Rom’s challenging debut season in 2023, where he struggled with performance issues.
Expected to serve as a rotational option for the Cardinals this season, Rom’s absence, coupled with Matz’s uncertain status, leaves the team with a thin and aging pitching rotation. At 34 years old, Gray is now the youngest starter in the rotation. If any of the other veterans such as Miles Mikolas, Kyle Gibson, or Lance Lynn were to suffer injuries, it could spell trouble for the Cardinals.
The team will need to rely on its experienced pitchers while navigating through these injury challenges. They may need to explore options such as calling up players from the minor leagues to bolster the pitching staff temporarily. Overall, the Cardinals must find a way to weather these injury setbacks and remain competitive in the season ahead.
