Before tonight’s game, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt praised Ryan as a strong option off the bench. “Ryan’s done a nice job, and he is a great option off the bench,” Shildt said. “It’s always going to be flexible. It’s going to be relative to the total picture of who we have on the club that day. Like every day, it’s always a question of who’s going to give us the best opportunity.”
What this highlights is the Cardinals’ emphasis on depth and matchup-based decision making. Shildt’s comments make clear that roster choices will be tailored to who’s available and the opponent, with the bench player’s impact measured against the goal of maximizing opportunities each game. Players in reserve roles can swing late-game outcomes with timely hits, defensive switches, or strategic substitutions, keeping the lineup dynamic throughout a long season.
The takeaway is a design for flexibility: trust in role players, adapt to daily realities, and prioritize the best fit for that day’s challenges. This approach can help the Cardinals stay competitive even as schedules tighten and injuries or slumps test the roster.
Hopeful note: with a versatile bench and a manager who frames daily opportunities around the whole club, the team positions itself to weather bumps and capitalize on favorable matchups as the season progresses.