St. Louis Cardinals pitching shows progress despite missing 2026 postseason

The St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2026 season with a 77-85 record, placing fourth in the National League Central and missing the postseason. Despite the lack of October baseball, the team's starting pitching rotation showed signs of development.

Pitcher Andre Pallante improved his ERA from 5.31 to 3.83, utilizing better command and an increased sinker usage alongside a newly introduced splitter. Left-hander Quinn Mathews also performed well in his first nine big-league starts, posting a 3.83 ERA over 49.1 innings.

In the American League, the Cleveland Guardians advanced to the Championship Series after defeating the Chicago White Sox, setting up a matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays.