With the Rangers playing the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, it made many Monday think of a certain 2011 playoff matchup: Game 6.
But with Monday’s news, the postseason game that should be on minds? Game 2.
As in, the second game of the Cardinals’ first postseason series of 2024. Because they now have the game’s starting pitcher.
The importance of adding Erick Fedde isn’t just for getting the Cardinals to the postseason but for winning in the postseason. Traded Monday to ºüÀêÊÓƵ from the Chicago White Sox, Fedde arrives with a 3.11 ERA, 11th-best in the American League.
And since Fedde’s rough start on May 4 — sure enough, against the Cardinals at Busch — he has a 2.94 ERA. Right now, he’s the Cardinals’ second-best starter behind Sonny Gray.
No, Fedde isn’t a household name — at 31, he’s finally having a breakout season in the majors — but this is what the Cardinals need. This is what I wrote about on these pages last week. This is the replenishment. And it should light a fire under the other starters. Those guys came here to pitch in the playoffs and start big games. But there are only a certain number of postseason starts.
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That leads us to the next part of this: The Cards need to get to the postseason first. Well, the three-team trade bringing outfielder Tommy Pham and Fedde to the Cardinals — and sending Tommy Edman to the Dodgers — improves ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Enhances ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
“We feel like getting a starting pitcher is going to help us,†Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said before Monday’s game. “Obviously, our rotation has been very successful this year, but as you enter August, (pitchers) get tired. And just being able to have a fresh arm, someone we could go to who’s having the success that Erick was having, is something that we desire. ...
“I loved everything (our starters) were doing. But we know there’s a lot of baseball left. And the other question is, like, how much depth do we have below that we felt could protect us? Yes, this can help us now, but it was also to give us protection in 2025.â€
This trade is reminiscent of the 2022 deadline deal Mozeliak made for Jordan Montgomery because Montgomery had another year left on his deal. And he pitched quite well for the 2023 Cards, who flipped him for some prospects.
And speaking of Mozeliak, he has been taking a lot of heat from booing fans and the media of late. But Monday’s trade was a sharp one.
As for Fedde, I think he’ll do well here because he’s a pitch-to-contact guy and gets a big share of ground balls — and the Cardinals, especially at shortstop and third base, have some stellar gloves. And Fedde has thrived this year by mixing in a sweeper — opponents hit just .167 against it — and it’s a pitch he can learn even more about from Gray and Kyle Gibson.
“He’s pitching with confidence, and his mix plays,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “He’s shown that all year, and it’s going to help us. Going down the stretch here, adding someone like him, who has been steady, is important.â€
OK, so who gets dropped from the rotation, at least in the short-term? Andre Pallante isn’t paid to be a starting pitcher and has experience out of the bullpen, so as Mozeliak suggested on Monday, “the natural move might be putting Pallante back, but we’ll see.â€
But entering Monday, Pallante has had some of the best stats of the starters. That was before he allowed seven hits and three runs over five innings and was the loser in Texas’ 6-3 victory. So, say, if Lance Lynn suddenly has a couple of duds in a row, perhaps he’ll miss a start? Regardless of how Marmol figures out this problem, it’s a good problem to have. Also, safe to say we won’t have to see Matthew Liberatore wedged into any more starts this summer.
Acquiring Fedde (and Pham) also gives a boost to Cardinals players from a psychological standpoint. They know the front office believes in them enough to make this trade. Marmol speaks often about the team’s work ethic. Well, it was rewarded with reinforcements.
Now go make the playoffs.
Got to make the playoffs.
Can’t miss the playoffs.
Not for these fans.
Not after last year.
“I do believe this team can contend,†Mozeliak said. “Obviously the last week or so has been not as good as the last 2½ months — and we’ve already forgotten about April. So I think the way the club showed it’s capable of playing, we’re excited. And as we push to October, we wanted to add some pieces that would make us stronger.
“... So I think for us to continue to be successful, obviously we need strong starting pitching. We need to continue to play strong defense. And from an offensive standpoint, I feel like we are trending in the right direction. So hopefully we’re timing this right, and we can take advantage of the situation we’re in — and make the most out of these next two months.â€