Cardinals Face Crucial June: Will Trades Shape Their Season?

St. Louis, USA - The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves at a crucial juncture as June unfolds, sporting a shaky 1-4 record and reeling from two consecutive series losses. With a schedule packed with challenging opponents, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, the next few weeks could determine the team’s strategy as the trade deadline looms on July 31. As the pressure mounts, the Cardinals must decide whether they want to buy or sell on the market, a decision influenced by their performance this month. If things don’t improve, players on expiring contracts like Ryan Helsley and Phil Maton could soon be on the move.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier. After facing the Dodgers and Blue Jays, the Cardinals hit the road for a series against the Milwaukee Brewers—a team that is currently jockeying for position in the National League Central along with the Chicago Cubs. Herein lies the challenge: if the Cardinals don’t start turning things around, their playoff dreams could slip away. There’s something to be said for the importance of each game, especially with only one scheduled off day until July 3.

The Landscape Ahead

Despite their rough start, the Cardinals have shown signs of improvement. Once struggling at 14-19, they have turned things around with a remarkable run, winning 20 of their last 29 games. Remarkably, the Cardinals‘ offense now ranks fourth in Major League Baseball in batting average, while the pitching staff has become increasingly reliable, featuring four starters with an ERA below 4.00. The bullpen is strong and confident, led by the talented Ryan Helsley, who has been nothing short of stellar this season.

However, they need to keep pace with the Cubs, who currently sit five games ahead in the division. If the Cardinals find themselves falling further behind, it may lead to a painful sell-off at the trade deadline. Trade speculation surrounds significant names including starting pitchers Erik Fedde and Miles Mikolas, along with closer Ryan Helsley. Even veteran stars like Nolan Arenado and Wilson Contreras could be considered, although Arenado has previously nixed a move to the Houston Astros.

What the Fans Can Expect

As fans gear up for the upcoming games, they can catch all the action on the FanDuel Sports Network, accessible through multiple cable and streaming providers across the Cardinals‘ television footprint. Local viewers can find the channel through providers like Charter Spectrum and Comcast Xfinity. So, grab your snacks and settle into your couch—it’s going to be an intense June for Cardinal Nation!

As the dust settles after each game, the true scope of the Cardinals‘ playoff ambitions will come into focus. Will they hunker down and push for a playoff spot, or will it be a season of rebuilding? The next few weeks are pivotal, and fans across Florida—and beyond—are holding their breath for a turnaround. With the right decisions and perhaps a bit of luck, the Cardinals could still pen a successful chapter for this season.

For ongoing updates on everything Cardinals-related, including game schedules and broadcasts, check out the latest offerings from MLB.com. And as for those trade discussions? Stay tuned! With every swing of the bat, anything could happen.