4/19 GDT: Cardinals(Liberatore) @ Astros(Burrows) 1:10 PM CT

[jagtrader]

The collapse will be sad but the ride is fun.

[CardsofSTL]

I cannot understand how they're actually winning.

I asked the AI Brewers Fan Robot how they won and this is what I got

It's early-season baseball, where hot streaks and matchups can look like magic. The Cardinals have won 5 straight and are right in the thick of the NL Central. If they keep winning with this young core while the pitching stabilizes, fans will absolutely start chanting "devil magic" again—especially after road sweeps like this.

[Fan_In_NY]

Unsustainable one-run/extra inning record. Negative run differential and haven't played a team with an over .500 record - but its fun to win. And I'm sure they will be exposed - but if they stay healthy they can continue to be a fun (and frustrating) team to watch.

[Felix The Cat]

Unsustainable one-run/extra inning record. Negative run differential and haven't played a team with an over .500 record - but its fun to win. And I'm sure they will be exposed - but if they stay healthy they can continue to be a fun (and frustrating) team to watch.

Guardians and Tigers?

That Mariners/Pirates/Dodgers/Brewers/Padres stretch will a real test though. Hope we can pick up some wins against the Marlins first because the schedule looks brutal afterwards.

[phins]

Unsustainable one-run/extra inning record. Negative run differential and haven't played a team with an over .500 record - but its fun to win. And I'm sure they will be exposed - but if they stay healthy they can continue to be a fun (and frustrating) team to watch.

Everything you say to start is absolutely correct. The one-run record? Running hot.

Extra inning record? Variance.

Run differential? Great proxy for team strength.

But let's pump the brakes on over .500 teams. The Tigers, Guardians, Rays are all three over .500. They've played five series against the AL (typically the stronger league).

They are definitely missing the playoffs this year. No doubt. DeWitt and family suck something terrible, 100%.

Like you say, it's still fun to have a nice stretch and think because a few players are giving you some hope they could be pillars.

[Fan_In_NY]

Unsustainable one-run/extra inning record. Negative run differential and haven't played a team with an over .500 record - but its fun to win. And I'm sure they will be exposed - but if they stay healthy they can continue to be a fun (and frustrating) team to watch.

Everything you say to start is absolutely correct. The one-run record? Running hot.

Extra inning record? Variance.

Run differential? Great proxy for team strength.

But let's pump the brakes on over .500 teams. The Tigers, Guardians, Rays are all three over .500. They've played five series against the AL (typically the stronger league).

They are definitely missing the playoffs this year. No doubt. DeWitt and family suck something terrible, 100%.

Like you say, it's still fun to have a nice stretch and think because a few players are giving you some hope they could be pillars.

I honestly just thought this column in the standings page on mlb.com maybe would have actually had the record against teams over .500... but it just shows blank for the Cards so I assume they hadn't played anyone.