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Cardinals Surprise: Young Team Soars Early
16 Apr
Summary
- Cardinals hold a 10-8 record, narrowly trailing division leaders.
- The team boasts baseball's top defense with 11 outs above average.
- Rookie JJ Wetherholt leads the league in defensive performance.
Despite skepticism heading into the season, the St. Louis Cardinals have proven many wrong with their early performance. As of mid-April 2026, the team boasts a 10-8 record, placing them narrowly behind the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central standings.
A significant factor in their strong start is their dominant defense, which leads all of baseball with 11 outs above average. This marks a notable achievement, surpassing other top teams like the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Individually, rookie JJ Wetherholt has been a revelation, leading the league with five outs above replacement and silencing doubts about his defensive capabilities. Reigning Gold Glove winner Masyn Winn and Nolan Gorman also contribute significantly to the team's defensive prowess, rounding out a squad that is excelling in the fundamentals.
