3 surprises and 2 disappointments from first month of MLB regular season

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Delay (55) and second baseman Ji Hwan Bae (3) and shortstop Oneil Cruz (right) greet left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) after all players scored runs against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Reynolds hit a three run triple and scored on an error on the play. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nolan Arenado (28) sits on the bench in the 10th inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Halfacre-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Disappointment: St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are perhaps the biggest disappointment in baseball. They entered the season with World Series aspirations, but with flaws — mainly in the pitching staff — and they have revealed themselves early and often throughout the year.

Entering Friday, the Cardinals are 10-16. Surely it is not what president of baseball operations John Mozeliak or manager Oli Marmol could have envisioned entering the season. Certainly it is not what Nolan Arenado envisioned when he opted into the remainder of his multi-year contract this past offseason.

Earlier this week, the Cardinals attempted to clear out their outfield logjam, surprisingly optioning top prospect Jordan Walker to Triple-A despite a strong start to the season. Perhaps consistent at-bats for hitters can help a struggling offense get out of its rut.

But the Cardinals’ issues will not be fixed until the pitching staff gets sorted out, and that could require Mozeliak to get aggressive on the trade market sooner than later.

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