It hasn’t strung together more than two consecutive wins since the first weekend of the season. The Cards aren’t dominating at Busch, where they have during all of the manager Matheny’s tenure. The Cards have good overall run production numbers, but those numbers are skewed by production during football-score wins against abysmal teams.

ESPN Stats & Info suggested that the Cardinals are on pace to be “the best worst team in baseball history.” After the Cards first 30 games, their run differential was plus-43, on pace for a plus-232 for the season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, every team since 1900 that finished a season with a run differential of plus-200 or better has had a winning percentage of at least .570. Yet the Cards are at .500.

“I think we’re kind of waiting to catch fire, and hopefully it’s going to happen soon for us,” said Stephen Piscotty, the heir to the throne that is the No. 3 spot on the lineup. “I have a really good feeling that this team is just going to get real hot and absolutely take off. Everyone knows what their responsibility is and what they need to do.”