The St. Louis Cardinals have found their groove—and it’s being led by a lights-out starting rotation. Over the course of their current five-game winning streak, Cardinals starters have combined for a Major League-best 1.67 ERA, outpacing the next closest team, the Cleveland Guardians, by a wide margin (2.37 ERA).
Pitching has long been a foundational pillar of Cardinals baseball, and this recent stretch is proof the formula still works. Anchored by sharp command, aggressive pitch selection, and elite execution, the St. Louis rotation has not only kept them in games—but powered them to the top of the NL Central conversation.
Whether it’s Kyle Gibson’s veteran poise, Sonny Gray’s electric strikeout stuff, or Miles Mikolas’ bounce-back efficiency, the Cardinals’ rotation has delivered inning after inning of dominance.
Each starter has gone deep into games, minimizing bullpen usage and keeping opposing offenses guessing. Over the past five outings, St. Louis starters have allowed just 6 total earned runs, with multiple quality starts and no outings shorter than five innings.
ERA (last 5 games): 1.67 – Best in MLB
WHIP: Under 1.00 during the stretch
Strikeout-to-walk ratio: 4.8-to-1
Opposing batting average: Just .205
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s impressive 2.37 ERA still pales in comparison—a full 0.70 runs higher than the Cardinals’ staff over the same stretch.
The rotation’s resurgence couldn’t come at a better time. With the All-Star break looming and the division standings tightening, St. Louis has climbed back into postseason contention by sticking to its strengths. The team now sits over .500 and has outscored opponents 27–10 during the streak.
Manager Oli Marmol has praised the staff’s mental toughness and game-by-game focus: “They’ve executed at a high level and given us a chance to win every night. That’s all you can ask from your starters.”
With upcoming series against playoff-caliber teams like the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, the Cardinals will need this rotation to continue carrying the torch. But if recent results are any indication, the Birds on the Bat might just be heating up at the perfect moment.