Earlier this year, most Cardinals fans would’ve preferred to see veteran pitcher Miles Mikolas traded — especially after two disappointing seasons. While Nolan Arenado dominated offseason trade buzz, Mikolas was the one many hoped GM John Mozeliak would move. Surprisingly, their wish might come true by the trade deadline, but for an unexpected reason: Mikolas is actually performing well for the 13-17 Cardinals.
In the opening game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Reds, Mikolas tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits, striking out four, and issuing no walks.
Performances like that could make him an intriguing trade option in July, especially if St. Louis falls out of playoff contention.
Despite a season ERA that doesn’t jump off the page — it sat at 5.70 before Wednesday and dropped to 4.66 afterward — that number is skewed by one bad outing. In five of his six starts, Mikolas has allowed three runs or fewer, including strong showings against tough lineups like the Mets, Phillies, and Braves. In those outings, his ERA is below 3.00.
Skeptics might question whether his resurgence is sustainable. He’s not striking out many batters, walking more than usual, and hasn’t yet allowed a home run — something that could change with warmer weather.
Still, if Mikolas maintains this form and the Cardinals become sellers, there could be trade interest in the veteran, even if modest. St. Louis may need to absorb some of the $17.6 million he’s owed, but since it’s the final year of his contract, any return would be better than expected — a positive development for a club in transition.