The St. Louis Cardinals excel when built for run prevention. Some of the Cardinals’ greatest years for hitting recently also ended in duds in terms of making the playoffs. 2017 was the highest year this decade for slugging. 2016 was the highest year in the 2010s for OPS. Both years the Cardinals failed to make the playoffs.
Now that the Cardinals defense has done a 180°, and become one of the elite defenses of the National League, the front office should make sure that the pitching is always there to complement the defense.
“Let the rough side drag.