With the start of the season right around the corner, the Saint Louis Cardinals roster has taken form. Full of young talent and new stars, the team’s expectations are high. These players will be notables for you to watch this season.

Harrison Bader– Bader is coming off an impressive 2018 season in which he posted solid offensive numbers as well as shining on the defensive side. For a casual fan, he will be a great sight to watch on the field, making flashy plays as well as being aggressive at the plate and on the bases. Look for him to improve at the plate, posting around a .280 average with a spike in stolen bases and defensive runs saved.

Miles Mikolas– Mikolas recently signed an extension in February for about $68 million dollars after posting an impressive 18-4 record and a 2.83 ERA in 2018. While his numbers may not replicate the amazing season last year, he should stay up in wins due to his low WHIP and ability to strike out batters. The numbers for him should be around the 15 win mark with an ERA around 3.00 throughout the regular season.

Paul Goldschmidt– Recently being traded to the Cards, we haven’t seen much of but we do know one thing from years past, he is consistent. He is a career .297 hitter and is constantly putting up high numbers in home runs as well as RBIs. He should continue to put up such numbers with the Cards.

Jordan Hicks– This right-handed reliever is definitely lightning in a bottle. Hicks consistently hits speeds of 103, 104 and 105. He is exciting for fans to watch and terrifying for opposing hitters who just see a blur. He will be a late inning option for the Cards and should quickly take over the closing role full time.

Jack Flaherty– Flaherty will battle this season to be considered the ace of the Cardinal pitching staff. His stuff is electric, and he has already been named as the starter for the home opener. He is only 23, but the Cards look as though they have a real gem in their starting rotation.

These players are just a few of the talented crop on the team that looks to perform better than last season, hoping for a playoff berth. Opening Day is Thursday, so tune to the start of another Cardinal baseball season at 1:10 p.m. in Milwaukee as they look to beat the Brewers and open the season right!