Depth shows up for Cardinals during 16-game win streak

It's Paul Goldschmidt, Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina and Nolan Arenado. But it's also Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Knizner, Jake Woodford and Kodi Whitley.

The St. Louis Cardinals are proving to be a lot more than their biggest stars — a Lars Nootbaar more.

The soaring Cardinals have won 16 in a row heading into Tuesday night's game against NL Central champion Milwaukee. It's the majors' longest streak since Cleveland took 22 in a row in 2017, and the best in the National League since the New York Giants won 16 straight in 1951 on their way to an improbable pennant.

One more win, and St. Louis clinches the second NL wild card for its third straight postseason appearance. Wainwright takes the mound Tuesday night against Brandon Woodruff and the visiting Brewers.

“I think, finally, now, you know maybe at the most important time of the season, we're putting everything together and we're not trying to force anything,” Knizner said. “You see each game different guys stepping up, making big plays or making big pitches to win us a game.”

Each of St. Louis' big stars has pitched in. Goldschmidt is batting .383 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in his last 16 games. The 40-year-old Wainwright is 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA in September. Molina has six RBIs in his last six games, and Arenado has four homers and 12 RBIs during the streak.

But the Cardinals (87-69) are receiving positive contributions from all over their roster.

Gallegos has 10 saves and a sparkling 0.84 ERA over his last 11 games, solidifying the back end of St. Louis' bullpen. Nootbaar, a rookie outfielder, homered twice and scored five times during the Cardinals' four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Whitley has a string of 12 consecutive scoreless relief appearances.

Mix in a breakout performance for Tyler O'Neill, who has...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Depth-shows-up-for-Cardinals-during-16-game-win-16491855.php