Paul Goldschmidt Has Turned It Around, but Is It Too Little Too Late for the Cardinals?
Paul Goldschmidt started off the 2024 season on a terrible note, not having been able to live up to expectations so far this year. However, with 23 games remaining in the Cardinals’ season, Goldschmidt is officially back to All-Star form. Lack of production from established big leaguers like Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado has compounded one of the St. Louis Cardinals’ biggest problems all season, scoring runs. Lack of production from these two in addition to an aging pitching staff, has caused the Cardinals to rely on young talent like Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn for the majority of the season.
Ranked 20th in runs scored this season and 21st in home runs, something needed to change for the Cardinals offense in order to make a legitimate run at the postseason. That something has been Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt is knocking the cover off of the baseball in his past 30 games and has been even better in a recent sample size. In Goldschmidt’s last 30 games, he has a .301 batting average, a .358 on-base percentage, and a .531 slugging percentage. In his last 15 games, Goldschmidt is hitting .373 with an on-base percentage of .403, and a slugging percentage of .610. Despite those great numbers, the increase in production for Goldschmidt doesn’t stop there. In his last seven games, Goldschmidt is slashing a .517 batting average, a .533 on-base percentage, and a .862 slugging percentage.
With three hits in five plate appearances yesterday, including his 21st home run of the season, Goldschmidt powered the Redbirds to a much-needed victory. With so few games to go, the 2022 National League MVP will need to continue to build on his 10-game hitting streak in order to keep the Cardinals in contention for a National League Wild Card spot. Currently, the St. Louis Cardinals sit five and a half games out of the third and final Wild Card spot with the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Braves holding each of the three spots. The red-hot Mets are right behind and the Cubs after that. If the Cardinals play well over the next week, anything is possible even though their chances of climbing up the ladder while other teams fall look quite slim. Nevertheless, Goldschmidt’s recent run of form should not be discounted. Improving upon his 2024 stats throughout this streak, Goldschmidt has once again proven why he will be a viable commodity for many teams when his contract with the Cardinals expires at the end of the season.
