His “most challenging” decision in the throes of a game as Cardinals manager is one Mike Shildt expects to face every game, and it could get even trickier if Major League Baseball decides at its earliest convenience to inject the designated hitter into the NL.
There are times when the starting pitcher being in the lineup takes the decision out of his hands because a pinch-hitter is necessary for offense. And then there are the moments Shildt has to make the toughest of choices and take the ball into his hand, removing the starter. Shildt relieved the starter in 59 of the 61 games the Cardinals played in 2020, 170 of the 171 they played in 2019.