St. Louis Cardinals Excel Against MLB’s Elite Pitchers…
The St. Louis Cardinals have kicked off the 2025 season by proving they can hold their own—and then some—against some of Major League Baseball’s top arms.
In their first 15 games, the Cardinals have already faced eight pitchers who ranked in the top 50 by FanGraphs WAR in 2024: Pablo López, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Tyler Anderson, Paul Skenes, Aaron Nola, and Zack Wheeler. While many teams would struggle under that kind of pitching pressure, St. Louis has done quite the opposite.
The Redbirds boast a 5-3 record in those matchups, with only Anderson, Mitch Keller, and Christopher Sanchez managing to earn wins against them. Notably, even in the loss to Anderson, the Cardinals scored three runs in five innings—though their bullpen faltered afterward, sealing the defeat.
St. Louis opened the season facing the Minnesota Twins’ formidable rotation. On Opening Day, they plated four runs (two earned) against Pablo López. Joe Ryan kept them mostly in check with just one run allowed, though he didn’t factor into the decision. Then, the Cardinals exploded for eight runs in under three innings off Bailey Ober.
One of their most notable triumphs came against Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Prior to facing St. Louis, Skenes had never surrendered more than four earned runs in a game. The Cardinals topped that with five earned over six innings—a career worst for the young star and a signature win for St. Louis.
Their most recent big-name victims were Phillies standouts Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. Nola was tagged for two runs and four walks over five innings, while the Cardinals rallied against Wheeler for four runs across six innings—thanks in part to a strong showing by Willson Contreras.
However, the team has stumbled against less-heralded arms. Losses have come at the hands of Kyle Hendricks and rookie Hunter Dobbins, as well as Sean Newcomb, Walker Buehler, Carmen Mlodzinski, and others. Among these, only Anderson, Keller, and Sanchez ranked in the top 50 last season.
Through 15 games, the Cardinals sit at 7-8—hovering around .500 despite a tough early schedule packed with elite pitchers. Historically plagued by struggles against soft tossers and rookies, this year’s Cardinals appear capable of flipping the script if they can start dominating the less dominant.
If they figure that part out, something special could be brewing in St. Louis.
