3 Cardinals players who’ll be better in 2023, and 2 who won’t

Why Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery will not have a better year in 2023

The Cardinals traded Harrison Bader for Jordan Montgomery at the deadline in a move that shocked the baseball world. It ended up being a win-win for both sides as Bader came up clutch for the Yankees in the postseason and Montgomery pitched really well for St. Louis down the stretch.

Montgomery went 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA in his 11 starts as a Cardinal. He allowed just one run in his first four starts as a Cardinal, including a one-hit shutout at Wrigley Field.

Despite his great start, the southpaw limped to the finish line pitching to a 6.64 ERA in his final four starts. Because of this, he did not start a postseason game for the Cards when that seemed like a certainty.

Of course, Montgomery isn’t that bad but he’s not the guy he was in his first four starts either. For most of his Yankees tenure, he was a reliable back-of-the-rotation arm, and that’s what I expect from him this season.

His 3.11 ERA and 3.08 FIP would suggest he’s a number two starter, but I think projecting him to be the 3.85 ERA pitcher his career ERA says he is would be a safer bet.