Cardinals rumors: Rotation shuffle, playoff odds, Nolan Arenado’s streak

May 6, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brendan Donovan. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brendan Donovan. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

St. Louis Cardinals: Playoff odds are disheartening

The Cardinals have dug themselves into a hole to begin the 2023 season, entering Wednesday with a 17-26 record and still trying to figure out how to get out of the division cellar.

That tough start to the season has put a big dent into the playoff odds for St. Louis. Per FanGraphs, St. Louis has a 33.5 percent chance to make the postseason. Compare that to the 67.4 percent chance given to St. Louis before the season began and you can see just how far the Cardinals have tumbled compared to the rest of the National League.

The silver lining for St. Louis fans is that that 33.5 percent chance is still the second-best in the NL Central, well behind Milwaukee’s 71.8 percent, but ahead of the other three teams that currently are ahead of them in the division standings.

Of course, it’s still mid-May and things can fluctuate quickly if the Cardinals can turn things around before Memorial Day. However, time is definitely not on the side of St. Louis, and the playoff odds are beginning to show that.