— After another rough loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves at a critical juncture. The rotation has become a glaring weakness, and now the Redbirds are laying out three potential paths to rescue their struggling staff as they force themselves to confront an escalating rotation crisis.
In the 8-2 defeat at Wrigley Field, veteran starter Miles Mikolas was tagged early, surrendering a solo home run to Seiya Suzuki in the first inning and failing to settle in afterward. With Erick Fedde also continuing to struggle, the Cardinals now face two unreliable arms in their five-man rotation.
Despite the latest setback, the Cardinals remain nine games above .500—still holding a playoff spot and enjoying their best 85-game start since 2008. But warning signs that first emerged in June have become impossible to ignore: inconsistency at the plate, cracks in the bullpen, and a rotation that seems to be collapsing.
With the pressure mounting, the team’s front office has outlined three routes it may take to stabilize the rotation moving forward:
1. Make a Splash in the Trade Market
The boldest move would be acquiring a high-caliber starter ahead of the trade deadline. While this option could bring instant stability, it would likely come at a steep price in prospects or key roster pieces. Still, it’s a route the Cardinals are actively evaluating.
2. Promote from Within
Turning to the farm system is a more immediate and cost-effective alternative. Young pitchers like Gordon Graceffo or Tekoah Roby could be given a shot in the big leagues. While it adds excitement and fresh energy, the gamble lies in their lack of MLB experience during a high-stakes stretch.
3. Hold Steady and Hope for Rebound
The most conservative—and arguably most dangerous—approach is staying with the current rotation and banking on improvement from within. This passive route carries high risk, especially given recent performances from Mikolas and Fedde.
Offense and Bullpen Outlook
Offensively, the Cardinals are expecting a boost with the impending returns of Ivan Herrera and Jordan Walker. Key hitters like Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar, and Brendan Donovan are also expected to emerge from recent slumps. The bullpen has been inconsistent, but management believes improvement can come from current arms with only minimal additions.
Still, the rotation remains the Cardinals’ most urgent and uncertain area—and how they respond in the coming weeks may ultimately determine whether 2025 ends in contention or collapse.
