Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson Have Cardinals' Offense Buzzing

Jul 31, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) celebrates hitting a single to drive in a run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson Have Cardinals' Offense Buzzing

Originally posted on St. Louis Cardinals on SI
By Patrick McAvoy | Last updated Aug 21, 2026 10:03 AM ET

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The RBI race across Major League Baseball includes the St. Louis Cardinals, to say the least.

Right now, Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds is leading the league with 96 RBIs. But not one, but two members of the Cardinals are right on his tail. Jordan Walker is in second place in baseball right now with 94 RBIs. Alec Burleson is in third place with 93 RBIs himself.

What these two have been able to do this season has been ridiculous and deserves more praise. The Cardinals sold at the deadline and have the second-youngest roster in baseball in general. This club shouldn't be in the mix for a playoff spot, by all accounts. They entered the season with the expectation around the league that they would be near the bottom of the standings. Instead, this club has simply put its head down and has found ways to win games.

The Cardinals Are Going To Be Very Good

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Walker and Burleson being second and third in baseball in RBIs is a perfect example. Walker entered the season with a career high of 51 RBIs. He's already 43 RBIs ahead of that pace with about five weeks left in the season. Burleson entered the season with a career high of 78 RBIs. He's already 15 RBIs ahead of that pace.

These two, among others, have stepped up and have completely transformed the perception of the young Cardinals. Right now, the Cardinals are 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot. They're right in the mix and they have the offensive firepower to make things interesting down the stretch.

Walker and Burleson, for example, are the only duo in baseball with 85 or more RBIs. These two, plus JJ Wetherholt, Iván Herrera, Joshua Báez , and Masyn Winn are enough to try to make a run this season. But more importantly, the long-term future is bright. The Cardinals have shown this season that they are significantly ahead of schedule in this rebuild. Right now, they're in the mix for a playoff spot. Arguably, they're just a few moves away from true contention.

It's not every day a club has two sluggers in the middle of the lineup driving in this many runs. If you're a Cardinals fan, you should be excited. The last few seasons have been tough, but this club is trending in the right direction and soon enough, are going to be a consistent contender once again.

This article first appeared on St. Louis Cardinals on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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