WASHINGTON, D.C. — The St. Louis Cardinals had a better season than many people expected, snapped a three-year playoff drought, won a thrilling series over the Atlanta Braves then played a largely embarrassing National League Championship Series against a hot Washington Nationals team.



They were swept, and their 2019 season is over.



The immediate question after four games in which they struck out 48 times and managed just 15 hits, being outscored 20-6 has to be: “What the hell happened to the offense?”



Paul Goldschmidt, the team’s best hitter, who had been blistering the baseball before the Nationals and their three aces (plus rejuvenated veteran Aníbal Sánchez) became the opponent, went 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts. In his first seven plate appearances of Games 3 and 4, he struck out all seven times.



“It starts with me. I had one hit in four games, one time on base. It’s tough when you’re...