Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Covers five innings Wednesday
Rotowire
Mikolas limited the Mets to one run on five hits and one walk over five innings Wednesday in Grapefruit League action.
Mikolas was facing a Mets lineup that featured most of their regulars, and he put together a solid effort, getting his pitch count up to 73 and limiting the damage to just an RBI single from Francisco Lindor in his final inning of work. The 36-year-old righty has made at least 32 starts in three straight seasons, but over the last two years his ERA sits at an unsightly 5.04. He is guaranteed a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day rotation.
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Wants to throw fewer strikes
Rotowire
Mikolas wants to throw fewer balls in the zone on two-strike counts this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Mikolas has a microscopic 4.1 percent walk rate over the last two seasons, but he's also surrendered more two-strike hits than anyone in baseball over that span. The goal for 2025 is to try to get hitters to chase with two strikes, which might lead to a few more walks and a higher WHIP but also hopefully more strikeouts. Mikolas is entering the final year of his three-year, $55.75 million contract and will enter the campaign with a spot in the Cardinals' rotation.
Mikolas (10-11) allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the Giants on Friday.
Mikolas had a bumpy season at best, but he ended the year allowing a modest six runs over his last 16 innings, earning two wins with a 12:1 K:BB over that three-start span. He was able to contain the damage to the second inning Friday, and the Cardinals took the lead for good in the fourth. This is the third time in his career Mikolas has reached the 10-win mark, but he did it with a 5.35 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 122:25 K:BB over just 171.2 innings in 32 starts this year.
Mikolas (9-11) earned the win over Cleveland on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks while striking out four batters over six innings.
Mikolas pitched well in the contest, throwing 59 of 81 pitches for strikes and limiting the Guardians to a single run on a fifth-inning Bo Naylor homer. The right-handed hurler recorded only six whiffs but succeeded by getting ahead of hitters, throwing 17 of 22 first pitches for strikes. Saturday's victory was his first over his past 10 outings, and it was just his third quality start during that span.
Mikolas allowed two runs on three hits over five innings in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out four during the loss to Toronto.
Mikolas worked through four shutout innings before coughing up a two-run shot to Davis Schneider in the fifth. Mikolas has failed to complete six innings in four straight starts, posting a brutal 8.10 ERA during that stretch. He hasn't earned a win since July 21 and owns a 6.80 ERA in nine outings since then. Mikolas will carry a 5.49 ERA into his next matchup, which is projected to be at home against the Guardians.
Mikolas (8-11) allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over two innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against Seattle.
The Mariners jumped on Mikolas early with a five-run first inning before Randy Arozarena popped a two-run homer in the second. Mikolas has struggled since the start of August; he's gone 0-3 with a 7.76 ERA over his last seven starts. The ugly stretch has driven his season ERA up from 4.99 to 5.55 over 155.2 innings. Mikolas is currently lined up for a start in Toronto next weekend.
