Cardinals Duo Off to Cold Start at the Plate — But the Vibes Stay Hot
Five games into the new MLB season and the St. Louis Cardinals are already seeing a few unexpected headlines — and not the kind you hope for from your middle and bottom-of-the-lineup guys. Both Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras are still searching for their first hits of 2025, a combined 0-for-37 stretch that has fans raising eyebrows but hasn’t shaken the confidence inside the clubhouse one bit.
Contreras’ woes could be Luken Baker’s boon as this can only give the kids who knocked the cover off the ball in AAA ball a chance for some at bats. Something Baker didn’t get behind Goldy.
Masyn Winn: Battling the Slump with Poise
Let’s start with Masyn Winn who’s horrendous spring training (just 4 hits in 55 at-bats), extended right into the regular season (8 strikeouts, 3 walks, and not much else through 4 games).
But hold up — this story’s not all doom and gloom.
Winn isn’t sulking. He’s staying upbeat, taking extra work in the cages, and delivering solid contact when he connects. In fact, according to Baseball Savant, half the balls he’s put in play have been hard hit — and that’s not a stat you ignore.
He gets it. It’s a long season. “I’m going to have stretches where I can’t get out,” Winn told reporters after the Cardinals’ extra-inning loss to the Angels on Monday. “But to dwell on these first four games is going to be really tough.”
Defense Matters. His defense has been elite. We’re talking top three percentile in fielding run value. He’s already logged an “outs above average” of one — and it’s only April.
Manager Oliver Marmol is a believer, too. “The guy is dialed in on defense. He’s bringing energy and excitement,” Marmol said. “It’s not going his way offensively, but he’s handling it really well.”
Willson Contreras: Big Bat, Bigger Potential
Now let’s talk Willson Contreras — a guy planted right in the heart of the order, and a veteran presence who came into the season hot. Spring Training numbers? Try this on for size: .405/.511/.649 slash line with two homers and a new gig at first base. But so far this season? It’s been a grind — 0-for-19 with eight strikeouts.
But don’t let that fool you. There are serious reasons to stay optimistic.
Wilson Contreras is swinging harder than ever — literally. His bat speed is up nearly a full mph from last season, landing him in the top 3% of the league. He’s also finding the right launch angle on more than half his balls in play. Those are metrics that usually spell breakout — it’s not a matter of if, but when.
He was even supposed to get the day off Tuesday. But when the Cardinals needed a spark in extras, Contreras stepped up, taking the final at-bat of the night. Yes, he struck out — but the fact that he’s trusted in that moment says a lot.
With Alec Burleson and Luken Baker helping shoulder the load at first base and DH, the Cardinals have flexibility to let Contreras play through the slump — and with his track record and improved metrics, that patience could pay off in a big way.
Although the chewing on the grip tape from the bat did not help:
Bottom Line for Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras?
Sure, the Cardinals’ lineup hasn’t been firing on all cylinders yet, but there’s no panic in sight — just hard work, good vibes, and the confidence that both Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras will get every opportunity to turn that ominous tide.
Stay tuned, Cardinals fans. The season’s just getting started — and this story’s far from over.
