The St. Louis Cardinals have already taken care of business once on Monday, August 17, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in an afternoon makeup game. Now, with the second game of the doubleheader approaching, St. Louis is looking to build on that victory and continue its recent surge at a crucial point in the season.
The Cardinals entered Monday needing to string together wins if they wanted to remain relevant in the National League Wild Card race. After taking the opening game against Cincinnati, they have now won three consecutive games and improved their record to 64-61.
That three-game winning streak may not sound like a dramatic turnaround on its own, but the timing could be extremely important. With the postseason race beginning to tighten, every victory carries additional weight. Another win Monday night would give St. Louis a chance to make up even more ground and potentially put itself right back in the middle of the Wild Card conversation.
One of the most interesting lineup decisions for the second game involves Jordan Walker.
Walker started the first game of Monday’s doubleheader in right field and hit third in the batting order. He delivered a productive performance, going 2-for-4 at the plate as the Cardinals secured the 2-1 victory.
Rather than asking Walker to immediately return to the outfield for the nightcap, manager Oli Marmol has decided to give him a break from defensive responsibilities. Walker will remain in the lineup, but he will serve as St. Louis’ designated hitter while moving into the cleanup position.
That decision allows the Cardinals to keep one of their most important offensive weapons in the lineup while giving him an opportunity to conserve some energy during a demanding doubleheader.
Jordan Walker Moves Into the Cleanup Spot
According to the announced lineup, Walker will bat fourth and serve as the designated hitter for the second game against Cincinnati.
The Cardinals’ Game 2 batting order is:
- J. Wetherholt — 2B
- I. Herrera — C
- A. Burleson — 1B
- J. Walker — DH
- J. Báez — RF
- N. Church — CF
- M. Winn — SS
- B. Torres — LF
- B. Jordan — 3B
- A. Pallante — SP
The lineup gives St. Louis a slightly different look from the one it used earlier Monday, but Walker’s presence in the middle of the order remains a major component of the Cardinals’ offensive approach.
Moving Walker from third to fourth could also provide him with more opportunities to drive in runs. With runners potentially reaching base ahead of him, the Cardinals will be counting on their young slugger to provide the type of middle-of-the-order production that can turn scoring opportunities into runs.
His move to designated hitter is equally significant. Walker played right field during the opening game, so removing him from defensive duties gives Marmol a way to manage his workload without taking his bat out of the lineup.
Doubleheaders can be physically demanding, particularly for position players who are expected to play both games. Giving Walker a chance to focus exclusively on hitting could help him remain fresh as the Cardinals navigate the second half of the season.
Pallante Gets the Ball for Game Two
Andre Pallante will be responsible for getting the Cardinals through the second game of the doubleheader.
Pallante will start on the mound while Ivan Herrera gets the assignment behind the plate, creating the battery for St. Louis in the nightcap.
The Cardinals will also have Joshua Baez back in the fifth spot in the batting order. Baez will take over in right field, allowing Walker to move into the designated hitter role.
That arrangement gives Marmol the flexibility to keep Walker’s bat in the lineup while making a defensive adjustment for the second game.
The Cardinals know they cannot afford to waste opportunities at this stage of the season. At 64-61, St. Louis is still within striking distance, but the margin for error is becoming smaller with each passing series.
A victory in the second game would make Monday an extremely successful day for the Cardinals. Instead of splitting the doubleheader, they would have the opportunity to sweep both games and extend their winning streak to four.
More importantly, a second victory would give St. Louis additional momentum as it tries to make a late push toward the postseason.
Cardinals Starting to Heat Up
The Cardinals have quietly put together a stretch of baseball that deserves more attention.
Winning three games in a row may not be enough to completely change the National League playoff picture, but it is exactly the kind of run a team needs when trying to climb back into contention.
St. Louis has spent much of the season trying to find consistency. There have been stretches when the offense has struggled, moments when the pitching has failed to deliver, and periods when the team appeared to be drifting away from the postseason race.
Now, however, the Cardinals have an opportunity to change that narrative.
The first win against Cincinnati on Monday was particularly valuable because it came in a low-scoring contest. St. Louis managed to hold the Reds to one run while scoring just enough to secure the victory.
Those types of games can be important late in the season. Teams fighting for playoff spots do not always win with explosive offensive performances. Sometimes, a timely hit, solid pitching and a few defensive plays are enough.
If the Cardinals can continue finding ways to win games like that, they could become a much more interesting team down the stretch.
Jordan Walker Could Be the Key
If St. Louis is going to make a serious postseason push, Jordan Walker could play a major role in determining how far the team goes.
Walker has been one of the Cardinals’ most important offensive contributors throughout the season, and the organization will need him to continue producing as the schedule becomes increasingly important.
His ability to provide power and generate extra-base damage makes him particularly valuable in the middle of the lineup. The Cardinals need hitters who can change a game with one swing, especially when facing strong pitching during a potential postseason race.
Walker entering Monday’s doubleheader with a reputation as one of the team’s biggest offensive threats made his performance in the opening game even more encouraging. Going 2-for-4 and helping the Cardinals secure a victory was exactly the kind of contribution St. Louis would like to see from him.
Now, with Walker moving into the cleanup spot for Game 2, the Cardinals are putting him in an even more prominent offensive position.
Batting fourth typically comes with significant responsibility. The cleanup hitter is often expected to capitalize on opportunities created by the hitters ahead of him and deliver big hits when runners are on base.
Walker will have that opportunity against Cincinnati.
A Chance to Change the Conversation
The Cardinals’ situation is simple: they need wins.
At 64-61, St. Louis is not in a position where one victory will suddenly guarantee anything. The Wild Card race remains competitive, and the Cardinals will need to continue winning consistently if they want to stay involved.
But baseball seasons can change quickly.
A team that appears to be on the outside of the postseason picture one week can suddenly become a legitimate contender after putting together a strong winning streak. The Cardinals now have the opportunity to start building that kind of momentum.
Monday’s doubleheader could ultimately prove to be an important moment.
The first game is already in the books, and St. Louis has secured the victory. The second game presents another opportunity.
A win would extend the Cardinals’ winning streak to four games, complete a doubleheader sweep and provide another boost to their Wild Card hopes.
It would also give the club another reason to believe that its season is far from over.
For Walker, meanwhile, Game 2 represents another chance to continue establishing himself as one of the central pieces of the Cardinals’ offense.
He will not have to worry about covering ground in right field this time. Instead, his job will be straightforward: step into the batter’s box and help the Cardinals score runs.
Marmol’s decision to use Walker as the designated hitter could prove beneficial over the course of the long doubleheader. After already playing the first game in the outfield, Walker can now focus entirely on his offensive responsibilities.
That could be especially important if the game becomes another tightly contested battle.
The Cardinals have already shown on Monday that they can win a close game against Cincinnati. Now they have a chance to do it again.
The Bigger Picture
There is still plenty of baseball left to play, but the Cardinals cannot afford to overlook the importance of their current stretch.
Every game matters more when a team is chasing a postseason position, and St. Louis has given itself a little breathing room by winning three straight.
The challenge now is maintaining that momentum.
A doubleheader sweep would be an ideal way to do exactly that.
Walker batting cleanup gives the Cardinals one of their strongest offensive options in a prominent position, while Pallante takes responsibility for the pitching side of the equation. Herrera will handle the catching duties, and Baez will return to right field.
It is a lineup designed to balance production with player management.
Whether it is enough to produce another victory remains to be seen, but the Cardinals have already put themselves in a much better position than they were before Monday began.
For a team attempting to force its way into the National League Wild Card race, that matters.
And if Jordan Walker continues producing at the plate, the Cardinals may have exactly the kind of offensive catalyst they need for a late-season push.
The Cardinals’ season is not over yet.
In fact, after three consecutive victories, St. Louis is beginning to look like a team that may have something to say before the postseason picture is finally settled.
Now, all eyes turn to Game 2.
Walker is moving into the cleanup spot. Pallante is taking the mound. The Cardinals already have one victory in their pocket.
One more win would make Monday a statement day for St. Louis—and could give the club renewed belief that a Wild Card run is still within reach.
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