Tragic: Two of the Cardinals’ best players perish in an airline crash.

For the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023. The Cardinals have broken out of a year-long slump and are now solidly in the running for a playoff spot, if not the National League Central division title, despite warning indications in April and early May that things might be moving in the same direction. For a team hoping to add rather than being obliged to subtract, a trade deadline is more fun. A more active and healthy fan base results from August and September baseball that matters to the standings rather than just finishing the season. On a Wednesday night in August of last year, the Oakland Athletics defeated the Cardinals 8-0 at home. The 35-year-old journeyman pitcher Casey Lawrence was questioned during the game.