Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals SWEEP The Washington Nationals!

Starting point is 00:00:00 The St. Louis Cardinals continue to get elite starting pitching, and it's been the nucleus of what is now a season high eight game winning streak. You are Locked on Cardinals. Your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals. I'm J.D. Hafford and I'm your host for Locktown Cardinals, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network covering your team every day. You can follow me on X at JD Sports Radio. You can follow the podcast. also on X at L.O. underscore Cardinals. We're on YouTube. Make sure you like, subscribe, and comment, hit that notification button so you know when the new episodes are posted. Also now available on TikTok and Instagram at Locked on Cardinals, lots of shorts being put out there, little reels and stuff. So be sure to check it all out because this is a show serving Cardle Nation

Starting point is 00:00:54 and giving the best fans of baseball, all of the info about the birds on the bat. Today's episode brought to you by Fandle. Right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So to quote the legendary Bill Murray from Ghostbusters, and I know he's a Cubs fan, that's okay. But in Ghostbusters, as Peter Vankman, we came, we saw, we kicked its ass. The St. Louis Cardinals take three in a row on the road

Starting point is 00:01:25 from the Washington Nationals. They have now won eight games in a row and are now one game back. of the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. Bravo. Bravo. Hence why if you're watching on YouTube, you're seeing the ugly loud shirt again. And I know people keep asking me to like pull out a broom or something for the sweeps.

Starting point is 00:01:49 I don't know. There's not a lot of room here. So I don't know if that's really going to make a whole lot of sense. I'll let you guys do the broom stuff. I'll just wear this hideous shirt for you. But this is how we celebrate. Series wins. And this is the third straight series.

Starting point is 00:02:03 I've gotten to wear this shirt because the Cardinals, after splitting that four game series in Cincinnati, took two of three from the Mets, who just took two out of three from the Cubs. Then they swept the pirates in three at home and now three in a row on the road in Washington. And when streaks like this happened, it's usually because a lot of things are going right for the team. Bounces are happening in your favor, hits that used to be caught or falling and landing in grass. And that's certainly been the case for the Cardinals. There's been some good things happening. They are playing great defense, which is an underrated aspect of this team, something that's not talked about a ton.

Starting point is 00:02:41 But they are one of the best defensive teams of baseball. They're running the base as well. Sure, you're going to have a few plays here and there where you're like, that wasn't great. But overall, things have been going pretty well. You know, guys are scoring and getting into scoring position. Anytime you get Victor Scott on first base, he's in scoring position, it seems like, because now he's just,

Starting point is 00:03:00 br-droom, making his way around the base is no problem. They're getting timely hitting. Things are going well for the Cardinals. They're getting power like they did on Sunday when they need it. They don't always have it, but when they need it, there it is. But the one thing that has been the main ingredient for this eight-game winning streak has been the starting pitching. When the Cardinals have gotten the good starting pitching this year,

Starting point is 00:03:23 more times than not they're winning. And what the Cardinals have gotten from their starters in this last week has been, been nothing short of spectacular. And the funny thing is, is it all started with someone who's not even on this roster right now. It all started with Michael McGreevy against the Mets. After Palante had that rough start in the second game of the double header on May 4th, it was McGreevy who came in and just attacked the Mets hitters. He rattled off five and two thirds innings of one hit, shutout ball against one of the best teams, not only in the nationally, but in Major League Baseball to get the win and help the card will sweep that doubleheader.

Starting point is 00:04:03 Since that game, the starters have been on another level altogether. It's been incredible. And the Pirates and Nationals, no, they're not elite offenses. They're not. The Pirates are one of the worst in the league. And the Nationals have had their moments, but they're a very young team, but still have some firepower. But even so, you can't take what the starters have done for granted. Bad teams beat good teams all the time.

Starting point is 00:04:30 Pirates just took two of three from the Braves. I think you would consider them a good team. After the Cardinals swept them. The Rockies beat the Padres on Sunday after getting outscored by three touchdowns on Saturday. So it happens all the time. But the Cardinals and their pitching staff took care of business against Pittsburgh and this weekend against the nationals. Miles Michaelis threw in two of those games. He pitched okay on Monday in that six to three win over Pittsburgh.

Starting point is 00:04:55 Three runs, four hits, three walks, five innings, one winning, or one inning a one inning a one. from getting that quality start, but certainly competitive enough against the pirates and the Cardinals' offense ended up rallying off of their bullpen, and Gordon Grostho grabs the win in relief. Tuesday, you had Matthew Libertor out pitching Paul Skeens in that two-to-one pitchers duel, seven innings, one run on three hits, three walks, but eight strikeouts. Wednesday, it's your number one, sunny gray, seven innings of shutout baseball, seven hits, eight strikeouts, just one walk. Friday, Eric Fetty comes in and throw his first complete game shutout in his major league career. He was freaking awesome. Nine innings, zero runs, six hits, no walks,

Starting point is 00:05:41 which is huge for Eric Fetty because that's the one thing he's really struggled with this year, even in the games that he's pitched pretty good, was the walks. Eight strikeouts in that game for Eric Fetty. He's not a strikeout guy. Eight punches. Saturday, Andre Palante. has not had a great start to the year so far. He goes seven in a third innings, two runs, five hits, those two runs coming in that eighth inning, seven strikeouts, zero walks. Notice the theme here.

Starting point is 00:06:12 And then on Sunday, we're back to Miles. And it's five and a third innings from Miles Michaelis. One run, four hits, five Ks, one walk. What McGreevy started, the rest of this rotation has followed, and that is attack, attack, attack, attack. attack the strike zone. Stop giving these teams free runners. Go after them.

Starting point is 00:06:34 And if they beat you, then so be it. The home run that Miles gave up on Sunday to Nathaniel Lowe was down in the zone over the middle of the plate. I'm sure if you asked him, he'd say, yeah, well, I was trying to get that on the outer portion of the plate more. Came over the middle. He hit it over the wall. But at least you're in the zone and you're not putting these guys on. And that's constantly where bad things happen. and when you're giving the other team free runners.

Starting point is 00:07:04 Now, can you live in the zone like this, like they did in this series, and like they did against Pittsburgh, against the team like, I don't know, the Phillies, who you're going to go face now? They got sluggers up and down that lineup. We'll see. You certainly have to be more careful with them. Because if you miss over the plate, just like Nathaniel Lowe did on Sunday, they're going to put it over the wall.

Starting point is 00:07:25 They're going to hit it hard more times than not. They've got all kinds of hitters. Trey Turner. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, you know, they just, they just keep coming at you in waves, Trey Turner. Did I say him? Anyway, they just keep coming. Bryce and stock. But against these younger teams, pouring in strikes was the key. And the Cardinals did it beautifully all week long. Final line for the week for the Cardinals starters. 40 and two-thirds innings, 40 and two-thirds in six games. So an average of almost seven innings in appearance. Seven runs, an average of 1.2 per game, 24 hits, average of four per game,

Starting point is 00:08:08 37 strikeouts, average of just over six a game. And mind you, Michaelis had only one strikeout on Monday, which obviously drops that number down significantly. And only eight walks. That's just over one a game. Their combined ERA in the six starts this week is 1.55. Yeah, that'll play. play. And again, yes, it is the Pirates and the Nationals. I get that. So the trolls, you don't have to keep saying that. I know it's the Pirates and the Nationals, but you still got to go out there and do your job. And they did it very, very well, each and every night. Oh, and by the ball, by the way, the bullpen, the bullpen, yeah, they just did,

Starting point is 00:08:49 they didn't give up any runs all week, none. Didn't have a lot of action because the starters were so good and we're throwing so deep into these games. But when they were called upon, they got the job done as well. Do your job. And the Cardinals pitching staff did their job this week. Ryan Helsley clearly hates clean innings. Has to be a hit or a walk in there somewhere. But he picks up a couple of saves when he got into the games.

Starting point is 00:09:16 Everyone else locked it down one hell of a week for Dusty Blake and the boys. Well done. We're going to talk about the offense this weekend because you can't win unless you score, no matter how good your pitching is. So we'll do that next on Locked on Cardinals. the supplies you need from the site made for the skilled trades supply house whether you're in plumbing hvac or electrical work supply house is the reliable way to order products online that are easy to use website is packed with helpful resources and the latest product information to help you get

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Starting point is 00:12:15 People are going to be more happy about things. Yeah, there's going to be some guys out there that are still going to like, you know, be the trolls. It's okay. They're always going to be there. But enjoy it. Eight game winning streaks don't happen very often. Not a lot of teams are going to ever enjoy that. So enjoy it.

Starting point is 00:12:31 Feel free to enjoy it and live it up for while at last. because it's a big deal. It's a big deal. I mean, it's got them within one game, the first place in the NL Central right now. So have fun with it. The Cardinals' offense has been solid all year. Every team is going to have its hiccups and dry spells from time to time.

Starting point is 00:12:51 But most of the time, this team has been one of the better teams in baseball when it comes to the offensive side of things. And this weekend, they continued their winning ways by scoring 10 on Friday. They get four on Saturday, six more on Sunday, in the sweep of Washington.

Starting point is 00:13:06 And one thing that has happened in all three games was the Cardinals had the ability to score early and be the first ones to score. They scored first. Strike first, strike hard, no mercy, just like Cobra Kai said so. Friday, they get two in the first and it started with a pair of walks from Lars Neupar and Nolan Gorman. Or not Nolan Gorman, Mason went. I'm sorry. Waukser is good as hits.

Starting point is 00:13:33 walks are as good as hits. And the Cardinals have continued to be very patient on most nights. And it's led them to being a top 10 team and walks so far this year. That hasn't gone unnoticed. They've got 150 walks so far, which is only 12 behind the league leading Arizona Diamondbacks. They've been excellent at it. And their working counts. And when they're not walking, the other side of it is that they're not striking out all. that much. They're in the top 10 in lowest amount of strikeouts for a team as well. So you're getting more walks. You're getting less strikeouts. Funny how that formula works when it comes to winning in the game of baseball. In that game on Friday, you get the two walks.

Starting point is 00:14:19 Aronado follows with the single and then Contreras doubles. Boom, it's two to nothing. And they go on to win 10 to nothing without even hitting a home run of that game on Friday. But they got four doubles. They went five for 17 with runners in scoring position. They were getting the job done. Saturday. They get it going in the second inning. Contreras gets plunked. Sixth time that he's been hit.

Starting point is 00:14:42 And I was thinking about that after he got hit. I was like, how many times? Because guys are trying to pitch him in. That's how they're trying to get him out. And, of course, when you do that, balls are going to tail in and they're going to hit Contreras. You're just hoping that it doesn't catch him in a bad spot. And he gets injured at some point from this.

Starting point is 00:14:59 So hopefully that does not happen. Get all the best. batting armor you can on, Contreras, because that's what they're doing. They're trying to bust you in. But yeah, so you get Contreras, plunk by a pitch. Then Berluson walks. Gorman gets sought off, but he does put the ball in play, doesn't strike out, so it's not like an empty bat, moves runners over, so it's first and third, two out, and then Pedro Pahez, Mr. Clutch, singles in a run. Victor Scott comes up, laces one to left, singles in a run, Newpar, doubles, boom, four nothing, and the damage is done. Cherry on top is that that inning, all the damage came when there were two outs.

Starting point is 00:15:39 You know, that is just like, you know, gut-wrenching if you're on the other side of things. And obviously, Cardinal fans, we've been on the other side of things before when it comes to stuff like that where things are happening with two outs. You're just like, I can't watch anymore. It's debilitating almost when you're the other team. You're just like, ah. And then on Sunday, you get Lars Neupar hitting a solo home run. to lead off the game. Contreras goes yard in the second inning. And there you go.

Starting point is 00:16:07 Now you're at 2-0-0 again. Here they are in the dugout. Celebrating. Cardinals never trailed in this series against Washington. Never trailed. They haven't trailed in a game since Tuesday. When the pirates were up, one to nothing in the sixth inning, only to see the Cardinals come right back and erase that lead in the bottom half of the inning and take a two-to-one lead and knock Paul skeins out of the game. They haven't lost since, they haven't trailed since then. They haven't lost since then either. 20 runs and three games this weekend, almost seven per game. They banged out 27 hits. That's nine a game. They walk 16 times, a little over five per game. So think about that. You're getting nine hits per game and almost five, you know, a little over five per game.

Starting point is 00:16:50 So that's 14 people who are on base every game on average. You're going to win some ball games when that's the offensive output you're getting. No one are an auto. Let's go let's look at some of the stuff that guys have done over the last week. No one Aronado, seven for his last 19. He's hit 368. Five runs scored. It is fourth home run of the season on Sunday for the insurance late in the game. Wilson Contreras, six for his last 18, 333, five walks, two home runs, six rivies, and five runs scored. Victor Scott at the bottom of the order here, six for his last 19. He's hitting 319, three ribbies, four runs scored. I feel like all of them are from first base.

Starting point is 00:17:34 He just keeps coming in. Hasn't had any stolen bases this week, which is a little odd, but he keeps scoring. So who cares. Newt, who was, you know, he was cooling off a little bit there. He's six for his last 25, solo home run on Sunday to get things going. Four RBIs, four walks, three runs scored. Burleson is four for his last 13 with a home run three RBIs. They faced a couple left-handers in this series. So that's why you didn't see Burleson much. You didn't see Gorman much. Pedro Pahez, five for his last 13, four walks, three runs scored, split in time with Pozo, Herrera, obviously is back, contributed to RBIs on Friday night. Mason Wynn has been better recently. He seems to, you know,

Starting point is 00:18:21 they've talked about it on telecast. He just seems to be more engaged when he's near the top of the order. And they got him batting second, moving Contreras down. It's worked out really nicely for both these guys. Brin Donovan has slowed down a little bit, but he's still at 318 on the season. It has been excellent, both at the plate and in the field, whether you're putting him in left, whether you're putting him at second base.

Starting point is 00:18:43 He's been awesome. You know, really, if the Cardinals could get, because somehow, somehow, figure out how to get Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman to wake the up, there literally wouldn't be. like a weak spot in the order. Like when you go one through nine and you're looking at how the cardals are playing right now

Starting point is 00:19:09 at this very moment over this last week, one spot that is the weak spot is wherever Gorman and Walker are. They just aren't doing anything. But everybody else is contributing in some way, shape, or far. Now, very rarely do you ever have every single person in your lineup all on a heater at the same time. Doesn't happen that often.

Starting point is 00:19:35 So eventually some of these guys will cool off and maybe that's when Walker and Gorman step up. It's a long season. And I know there's a lot of people talking online like, how long is this run where you're going to be? It's going to be all year. It's going to be all year. They're going to give them as much time as they need to try to figure it out.

Starting point is 00:19:55 That's the way it is. But the Cardinals, despite Walker and Gorman, not contributing all that much, continue to win baseball games. And it's not just against the pirates and the nationals. Like I've mentioned, they've beaten a lot of good teams, you know,

Starting point is 00:20:14 beating the Mets, two out of three. That was significant, right? You know, they're going to play another team, their next series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Beat them two out of three. They've beaten some good teams, too.

Starting point is 00:20:28 It's not a bunch of scrubs. they beat the brewers who aren't having a great start to the season, but it's division opponent, reigning division champ, beat them two out of three. You know, it hasn't been all just bums that they've been able to beat. So they'll be tested, though, in this next series because now they're going to go on the road to Philadelphia. We're going to preview that series coming up next on Lockdown Cardinals.

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Starting point is 00:22:28 Check out the all new Lockton MLB game night, every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB game night on Locked on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast. I will be hosting the next four nights of MLB game night. So yeah, Cardinals keep winning. I'm probably going to wear this ugly-ass shirt on that show. The Cardinals are in Philly for the next three. So it ain't going to be easy. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the Phillies are still trying to chase down the Mets and the NLEs. But as I'm sure you know, they're still one of the best

Starting point is 00:23:01 teams in the National League and in all of baseball. The Cardals did take two of three from them already this season when they were at Bush, April 11 through the 13th, and they did it while facing the Phillies top guns in the rotation. You know, it wasn't like the fifth and sixth starters in the in their rotation. It was the it was the best of the best at the time. It was a two nothing win over Aaronola in that first game, Andre Palante went seven shutout innings in that one. Game two, Philly took it four to one behind Christopher Sanchez, who gave up just one run in six and a third innings. He's been excellent this season. So no shame there just because you don't know who Christopher Sanchez is.

Starting point is 00:23:40 You should get to know him because he's really freaking good. Then in game three, the Cardinals against Zach Wheeler. They score four against Wheeler, thanks to a home run by Contreras and RBI Devils by Nato and Gorman. Went on to win that one, seven to nothing behind Matthew Libertor, six shutout innings. So you had really good pitching for the Cardinals in all three games, really. I mean, you only give up four runs to that Philadelphia Phillies lineup over three games. I mean, you expect to win at least one, probably two and maybe even three. But it took two out of three on that one.

Starting point is 00:24:18 It's going to be good pitching matchups again in this series. Monday, it'll be Matthew Libertor, who's just been on the heater recently against Christopher Sanchez. He's four and one on the season thus far, just coming off a shutout over the raise, six shutout innings, six of them in his last start. So a couple of Southpaws. We'll be duking it out on that one. Tuesday, you've got Suddy Gray against another left-hander and Jesus Lazzardo. If the name sounds familiar, it's because they got him from the Marlins.

Starting point is 00:24:45 And he is 3-0 on the year so far. 2.11 ERA. That is the second best ERA in the National League. Only one person better, the Dodgers Yoshinobu Yamamoto. So that trade has worked out nicely for the Philadelphia Phillies thus far. Remember the thing with Lazzardo was always injury. will he be healthy? Will he be healthy? Because when he's healthy, he's usually pretty good. It was not healthy very much at all last year. Philly's took a chance and so far so good for them.

Starting point is 00:25:13 Then in the day game on Wednesday, it'll be Eric Fetty against Aeronola, who is shocking. And then what I said, when they beat them in that series earlier in April, Aranola was obviously one of their top guns. It hasn't gone well for Aeronola. A lot of up and down for him so far. He's one in six. on the season right now. The RA at 4.89. Very un-Aaron Nola type of numbers. And it's weird because he'll pitch good for a couple games and then blah. And then he has like a really bad outing. So not a great outing in his last time on the mound. But before that, the last two games, he gave up like one run over 13 inning. So we don't know which Nolan we're going to get.

Starting point is 00:25:55 He was good against the Cardinals in that first time. They just, you know, two to nothing was a score. So not going to be an easy series. That's for sure. But the Cardinals right now are feeling confident. They're feeling really good about themselves. They've won eight straight. Again, one game back of the Chicago Cubs and the NL Central. They've already beat the Phillies twice this year. It took two out of three in April.

Starting point is 00:26:17 So we'll see if they can keep it rolling in Philly. Thank you guys for making Locked on Cardinals. Your first listen to every day. If you haven't already, please give us a follow on X at L1 underscore Cardinals at a JD Sports Radio. We're on TikTok and Instagram at Locktown Cardinals. Please like, subscribe on YouTube, help our channel, in love for the Cardinals grow. We did get to 12,000 subscribers.

Starting point is 00:26:36 So thank you so much. Now we move on to the next number. We'll see if we can get to lucky 13,000 at some point in the future. You guys are the best fans in baseball for a reason, and I will see you next time on Lockdown Cardinals.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals SWEEP The Washington Nationals!

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