First pitch: MLB stock report for Cardinals, Mets, Astros and more
By Kevin Henry
MLB stock report: St. Louis Cardinals going up
Maybe, just maybe all of that talk about the St. Louis Cardinals already being done for the season was an overreaction? After all, the Redbirds have looked like the team that most MLB pundits thought they were going to be in recent games, going 8-2 in their last 10 games and recording series wins in their last four series. They’ve been beating division rivals (Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers) and taking care of teams that are off to their own strong starts (Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers).
How have they been winning? The drama from the Willson Contreras position changes and discussion seems to have subsided and the Cardinals are simply focused on playing right now. The offense has also roared to life, scoring double-digit runs in three of their last seven games (with the Cardinals going 5-2 during that stretch).
It felt like the Cardinals were going to turn it around at some point, and they’ve done just that. Now with a trip to Ohio this week to face the Reds and Guardians, we’ll see if St. Louis can keep churning ahead.
MLB stock report: New York Mets going up
The Mets have been just okay so far this season, and that’s simply not good enough for the massive payroll that Steve Cohen put together in the offseason. However, perhaps this weekend’s series against Cleveland was just the spark that both Mets fans and the team itself needed. Between late heroics at the plate from Pete Alonso and Justin Verlander looking like Justin Verlander on the mound, there is plenty of good to take away from the five-game winning streak that New York has put together.
There is reason for optimism, but now New York heads to Wrigley Field to face the Cubs and Coors Field to take on the Rockies. At 13-14 this season so far away from Citi Field, the Mets have looked mortal on the road. Will the win streak continue after an off day on Monday?