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But the Cardinals hit just .232 against left-handed pitching with a .658 OPS. That created a persistent matchup problem that opponents exploited.

This team was good in the field, despite some shuffling forced by injuries. Their metrics were strong: 35 outs above average, 27 runs prevented, 24 defensive runs saved.

Here are the individual grades, based on performance against expectations and compensation:

IVAN HERRERA

Between injuries (knee bruise, hamstring strain), Herrera became one of the team’s best stories this season while hitting .320 with a .924 OPS. His inability to control the running game limited his value as a catcher, but he added heft to the batting order as a designated hitter. Herrera pounded left-handed pitching (.333, 1.089 OPS), but he had good splits against righties (.315. .809) too. He hit .419 with runners in scoring position and .389 with RISP and two outs. The Cardinals need to keep his bat in the lineup –- and that would become easier if he can make improvements behind the plate.

Grade: A

YOHEL POZO

Here was another feel-good story. Pozo seized the opportunity presented by Herrera’s catching issues and his injuries. Pozo became Pages’ primary back-up behind the plate while giving the team an offensive lift in spot duty. He hit .312 with an .835 OPS in 93 at-bats while earning pinch-hitting and designated hitter assignments too. Pozo hit .350 with runners in scoring position, but he was just 2-for-11 with RISP and two out. Given his compelling personal story, fans should cheer for him to stick in the majors and earn some financial security for his family.

Grade: A

BRENDAN DONOVAN

Analysts viewed Donovan’s initial big league hitting success with skepticism, given his low exit velocities and an on-base percentage boosted by hit by pitches (14 as a rookie). As it turns out, Donovan is just a good old school hitter who earned his trip to the All-Star Game by batting .297 with an on-base percentage of .357 as a super utility player. But his struggles against left-handed pitching (.212, .288 on-base percentage) contributed to the team’s overall failure against southpaws.

Grade: A

ALEC BURLESON

He pushed for more at-bats in May while batting .303. Burleson cemented his everyday role in June while batting .317 with six homers and 21 RBIs. Burleson has hit .310 against right-handed pitching with an .856 OPS. Like Donovan, he struggled against lefties (.213. .578 OPS) with this team lacking strong platoon options. Overall, he has hit .296 with runners in scoring position and .289 with RISP and two outs. He has played capably at first base, and he has survived in right field while seeing far more time there than anticipated.

Grade: A-minus

MASYN WINN

Through 60 games he was batting .281 with a .785 OPS. Then the grind began taking its roll. He takes pride in playing every day, but he must manage lower back pain to do so. Winn hoped to do more damage on the bases this season, but he has just five steals. Since June 3, Winn has produced just seven multi-hit games. He welcomed the All-Star break after batting just .205 with a .288 on-base percentage in July. Overall, though, he hit .294 with runners in scoring position. He remained a fielding cornerstone at shortstop, featuring 99^th percentile fielding range and 88 percentile arm strength according to Statcast.

Grade: B-plus

WILLSON CONTRERAS

He made a seamless transition from catching to first base, earning a 97^th percentile Statcast rating for his fielding range. But his offensive start was, um, sub-optimal. Contreras went 0-for-19 in his first five games and 4-for-43 in his first 11 games. He didn’t climb over the Mendoza Line until April 25. But once he finally settled in, he gave the Cardinals the middle-of-the-order production they desperately needed. He hit .267 with a .784 OPS with 18 RBIs in May, then .265 with an .881 OPS and 21 RBIs in June. Overall, he is batting .293 with runners in scoring position and .298 with RISP and two outs.

Grade: B-plus

VICTOR SCOTT II

Through his first 47 games, Scott was sailing along with a .283 batting average and a .743 OPS. But as opponents began attacking him with more breaking pitches, he fell into a vexing 1-for-32 slump. Scott continued scuffling right up to the break while hitting just .167 in July. Overall, he hit just .198 against left-handers with the team lacking a right-handed platoon option. Despite that, the Cardinals kept him in the lineup as their No. 9 hitter due to his exceptional fielding. He led the team with nine defensive runs saved, according to the Fielding Bible, while rating in the 99^th percentile in fielding range. Scott added offensive value by stealing 24 bases in 26 tries.

Grade: B

THOMAS SAGGESE

He was terrific during his early season promotion, batting .341 with an .876 OPS in 44 plate appearances. Saggese didn't have as much success with his more recent fill-in work, going 6-for-45 in a part-time role. The Cardinals are starved for right-handed hitting, so Saggese could fill a platoon need with his multi-positional fielding versatility. But at this point in his young career he needs regular at-bats.

Grade: C

PEDRO PAGES

He earned his primary catching role with his fielding skill, his game preparation and his chemistry with the pitchers. Page enjoyed a strong offensive start, too, hitting .289 with eight RBIs in his first 12 games. But hen Pages cooled down, slumping to a .169 batting average in May. The swoon continued into the summer and he started July by going 4-for-28 as his season batting average sank to .208. He has driven in just seven runs since May 26. After exceeding offensive expectations last season, Pages suffered a reality check this season while taking a physical beating behind the plate.

Grade: C-minus                                                                        

LARS NOOTBAAR

He began the season as an effective leadoff hitter. Through 27 games he hit .272 with an .837 OPS. Then the grind began taking its toll. Nootbaar hit .169 in June and scuffled through a 1-for-32 stretch with 17 strikeouts. He worked out of the slump while hitting down in the batting order, but then he was slowed by a ribcage injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list. The Cardinals hoped Nootbaar would stay healthy this season and find another performance level, but he failed on both fronts. He is hitting .227 with .712 OPS, which is subpar for a corner outfielder.

Grade: C-minus

NOLAN GORMAN

The Cardinals hoped to play him regularly at third base this season, but the team was unable to trade Arenado. Gorman suffered a slow start exacerbated by a hamstring strain in April and positional roster crowding that limited his opportunities. On June 1 he was batting just .187 with a .577 OPS. Gorman finally got sustained opportunity in June and he batted .256 with an .867 OPS. But like so many teammates, he cooled down in July while batting .214 with 12 strikeouts in 28 at-bats. Gorman is another Cardinal who can’t hit lefties (.182 average, .288 on-base percentage). He turned 25 in May, so he has reached a critical point in his career.

Grade: C-minus

NOLAN ARENADO

He remains a hard-core competitor and a defensive asset. His fielding range at third base still ranks in the 85^th percentile according to Statcast, and he was credited with four defensive runs saved. But he is no longer an impact hitter. Age-related regression and nagging injuries have conspired against him. A shoulder impingement and sprained index finger plagued him heading into the All-Star break. He was better hitting cleanup (.264, .749 OPS) than hitting in the No. 6 slot (.239, .656). After posting an .891 OPS in 2022, that rate has declined to .774, .719 and .693 in the last 2 ½ seasons. Since his total compensation for this season exceeds $30 million, replacement-level production is problematic. His no-trade protection and his two remaining contract dollars have complicated the team’s effort to move him.

Grade: D-plus

JORDAN WALKER

The Cardinals hoped Walker would finally take off in his third big league season. He did not. Walker became more comfortable in right field, where his sprint speed (85^th percentile) and arm strength (95^th percentile) gained more value as he made better reads on batted balls. But his hitting regressed from his solid rookie showing in 2023 (.276, .787 OPS), a problem exacerbated this season by a wrist injury and his bout with appendicitis. After starting the season by going 6-for-17 with a homer, two RBIs and a stolen base in his first four games, Walker hit .195 until he returned the minors for more work. Walker hit just .203 with a .513 OPS against left-handed pitching, adding to the team’s matchup woes.

Grade: D-minus