Cardinals Lineup Went Nuclear After Receiving Reinforcements

The St. Louis Cardinals have scored 62 runs across their last nine games. During that time, they have returned Lars Nootbaar and Nathan Church to the active roster and have made the call at third base, bringing Blaze Jordan into the fold.

Before Monday’s game, Oliver Marmol spoke about the importance of getting a bat like Nootbaar back. “I think we held our own awaiting Noot, because we know the type of bat and the impact that he can have in our lineup,” Marmol said. Nootbaar's return deepened the Cardinals' lineup, allowing them to gain more production after Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson. Nootbaar has hit two home runs in his first nine games back from injury, and while he is hitting just .219 in 37 plate appearances, he is getting on base at a .324 clip and extends the heart of the St. Louis lineup.

Meanwhile, the additions of Jordan, Church, and Jimmy Crooks to the bottom third of the lineup provide a completely different profile than what the Cardinals rolled out for the first two months of the season. Jordan already has four RBIs and his first home run, which a pair of Cardinals fans caught and returned to the Cardinals' third baseman. “We’ve seen a couple games now, but it looks like he actually has a pretty calm demeanor and slowing the game down more than I anticipated him slowing it down at this point,” Marmol said about the organization's No. 25 prospect on MLB Pipeline.

While the Cardinals dropped some games where they controlled the lead late, to Minnesota, the offensive explosion is what the Cardinals needed after producing the third-lowest run total in baseball during May. Despite the lack of runs, the Cardinals found a way to have a 13-13 record in May. 

This new look lineup is deeper than what the Cardinals started the year with, and the reinforcements could be just what the doctor ordered in St. Louis as the playoff-contending San Diego Padres come to town.