The St. Louis Cardinals are on fire—and they just passed another major test with flying colors. After dismantling the Pirates and taking down the powerhouse Dodgers, the Red Birds set their sights on the team that has ruled the NL Central for three straight years: the Milwaukee Brewers. On Monday night at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals showed no fear, rolling to a 5-3 victory and improving to an impressive 21-14 on the season.
This wasn't just any win. It was a statement. The Brewers, fresh off adding star outfielder Jackson Chourio and slugger Andrew Vaughn back to the lineup, came in as the reigning division champs. But the Cardinals, winners of seven of their last eight games, played with the kind of confidence that makes you believe this team is built for something special.
The offense was relentless, racking up 11 hits and putting runners on base in seven of eight innings. Ivan Herrera delivered the biggest blow with a three-run double, while rookie sensation JJ Wetherholt chipped in with two RBIs of his own. On the mound, Kyle Leahy was sharp, allowing just one run over 5 1/3 innings to keep the Brewers at bay.
"We're basically just evaluating how we're going about it, and with the way we're playing right now, I'm comfortable playing just about anybody," said manager Oliver Marmol. "It has more to do with our consistency right now more than anything."
The Cardinals bounced back beautifully after having their six-game winning streak snapped by the Dodgers the day before. Now, they're 7-4 in a grueling stretch of 17 games in 17 days—and they're showing no signs of slowing down. With seven players recording hits and five different players crossing the plate, this lineup is proving it can beat you in a variety of ways.
For Cardinals fans, this is the kind of baseball that makes you believe. The pitching is holding up, the bats are coming through in clutch moments, and the team is passing every big test thrown their way. If you're looking for a reason to get excited about this season, just look at the scoreboard.