Cardinal's Playing Time Dilemmas Have a Straightforward Resolution
The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in a unique predicament as they navigate the final months of the 2025 season. Nine position players - Masyn Winn, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, Ivan Herrera, Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott, and Alec Burleson - are on pace to play in 141 games over a 162-game season, posing a challenge for the team to fit them all into the lineup.
This organizational situation, coupled with the amount of options the Cardinals have, makes it crucial for them to strike a balance between development and competitiveness. Manager Oliver Marmol has identified Herrera, Burleson, Donovan, Winn, and Contreras as "every day players" who will not be leaving the lineup barring an injury or need for an off day.
One strategy the Cardinals could employ is a combination of matchup-based platooning, incremental playing time for emerging young talents, and bench rotation across multiple positions. This approach would allow the team to maximize favourable matchups, gradually increase playing time for players like Gorman, and spread playing time while maintaining competitive lineups.
Utilizing left-handed and right-handed splits, the lineup features bats such as Gorman (left-handed) and Nootbaar (left-handed), as well as Ivan Herrera (right-handed). This allows for giving young players rest while maintaining lineup effectiveness.
Another strategy is to gradually increase the playing time for players like Gorman, who had a slow start but have begun producing consistently. The Cardinals seem to be moving in this direction with Gorman getting everyday at-bats lately after limited time initially in 2025.
The roster depth includes several young players who can rotate into starting roles at multiple positions, such as Chandler Simpson, Junior Caminero, and others in outfield and infield spots. This spreads playing time while maintaining competitive lineups.
Advanced metrics and player development staff feedback can also guide which young players need rest, which can handle more workload, and when to give opportunities. This strategic balancing improves long-term growth and performance.
In stretches with condensed schedules, rotating young players incorporates off days and reduces injury risk while maintaining in-game reps.
However, the Cardinals only have eight spots to place these players in on any given day. To address this, they should consider asking Burleson, Herrera, Contreras, Donovan, and Winn to take an off day or two every eight or nine games to help get everyone into the lineup, especially with Wetherholt potentially coming soon and Saggese playing better baseball.
Despite potential trade discussions, Lars Nootbaar should be playing most days down the stretch as it would hurt the Cardinals' leverage in trade negotiations to bench him.
Alec Burleson's struggles against left-handed pitching, with a 20% below league average production this season and a career wRC+ of 60 against lefties, make it sensible to sit him on those days and substitute him into the game later when a righty is on the mound.
Each of the players (Herrera, Contreras, Winn, Donovan) tends to pick up injuries over the course of a 162-game season and may benefit from a day or two off every two weeks.
Manager Oliver Marmol assessed Burleson as a player who has earned his spot based on consistent production, overcoming stretches where he wasn't in the lineup or in their main plans, and forcing himself into the equation.
As the Cardinals continue to navigate this challenging rotation, their strategic approach will be key to both nurturing young talent and maintaining a competitive edge in the race for the playoffs.
The St. Louis Cardinals, amidst their pursuit of the 2025 playoffs, might opt for a strategy that includes matchup-based platooning, gradual playing time for emerging talents like Nolan Gorman, and bench rotation across multiple positions. This would ensure maximum favourable matchups, gradual increase in playing time for young players, and spreading playing time while maintaining competitive lineups.
Another strategy could involve utilizing left-handed and right-handed splits in the lineup, as seen with players like Gorman (left-handed) and Nootbaar (left-handed), as well as Ivan Herrera (right-handed), to provide young players rest and maintain lineup effectiveness.
