The Cardinals closed out their home schedule with a 5-3 win Sunday and moved to 76-80, but the bigger story in St. Louis has been the mood around the team.
With six games left in the 2026 season, the Cardinals are headed to a fourth straight year without a postseason berth. Even so, manager Oli Marmol believes the relationship between the club and its fans has turned a corner.
"I feel in my seat more support than I've ever felt from our fanbase and our players feel more support than they've felt over the last couple years," Marmol said. "I think as you walk around town and you have conversations at coffee shops or dinner or whatever the case may be, there is a real optimism and excitement around where everything is headed.
This is a smart fanbase, they understand where we're at. I think we've been very up-front with that.
We've got a lot of work to do, but it's going to get pretty damn good very quick."
That optimism looks different from where things stood a year ago. Chaim Bloom had just taken over for John Mozeliak, and the idea of a rebuild was still settling in. This time around, the Cardinals have been more direct about the direction of the organization, and that honesty appears to have helped the fanbase buy in.
There’s also a real baseball reason for the shift in mood. St.
Louis has started to put together a young core that includes Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn, Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal, all expected back in 2027. On top of that, the system has been stocked with more talent at the minor league level, giving the Cardinals a farm system that has taken shape quickly.
The record still isn’t where the franchise wants it to be, and 2026 is likely to end below .500. But the long view is what’s driving the optimism now. For Cardinals fans, the promise is less about this season and more about what’s starting to come together for 2027 and beyond.
In Other News...
Cardinals Fans Will Never Forget What This Scary MLB Injury Brought Back
A scary scene in Chicago on Tuesday quickly turned into a reminder that baseball injuries can linger in a fan bases memory long after the original moment fades. Alex Bregman, the Cubs starting third baseman, was struck near the left eye by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle, and the early prognosis remains unclear. There was at least one small break in the bad luck, though, as the ball bounced before it reached him, which may have lessened the force of the impact.
For Cardinals fans, the sight likely stirred thoughts of Juan Encarnacin, whose 2007 injury remains one of the most jarring moments in recent team history. That incident ended his career and still stands as a sobering example of how quickly a routine baseball play can turn dangerous. Bregmans situation is still developing, but the resemblance is hard for St. Louis followers to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Starting To Feel Better About That Brendan Donovan Trade
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Tai Peete has given the deal some early life at Double-A Springfield, where he has been one of the more encouraging performers in the Texas League Championship Series, including a five-hit game. Meanwhile, Donovan has been limited to just 39 games for the Mariners this season because of injuries, which has only sharpened the spotlight on what the Cardinals got back and whether the swap may end up looking better for St. Louis than it did when it was made. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Enter Offseason With 3 Roster Calls That Could Get Ruthless
The Cardinals are heading into the offseason with a familiar sense of progress mixed with unfinished business, and Chaim Blooms first real roster squeeze is shaping up to be an important one. After a 2026 season that pointed the organization in the right direction, St. Louis still has clear needs to address, especially in the starting rotation, the bullpen and at third base, where the current mix may not be enough for the club to take the next step.
That puts some established names in a precarious spot as the front office weighs fit as much as familiarity. Nolan Gorman, Jos Pags and Ryan Stanek are among the players whose futures could come into question as the Cardinals sort through what needs to stay, what needs to go and where the roster needs to get tougher. [Read more 🡒]