Standout Cardinals From the Opening Series

The St. Louis Cardinals had a successful start to their 2026 season. They took two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays. Their first win saw them rally from a 7-1 deficit, and their second saw them walk it off in the tenth inning. There was plenty to cheer about at Busch Stadium this weekend.

With the first series wrapped up, let’s highlight the Cardinals’ three standout performers from the weekend.

Standout Cardinals of the Opening Series

This list marks the first of a weekly series on Last Word On Baseball. After each weekend series concludes, we’ll review the Cardinals’ standouts of the week, Monday through Sunday.

Typically, we will focus on individual players. However, some weeks we may spotlight groups, concepts, or characteristics—whatever stands out most. While our focus is on positive contributions, negative standouts may also appear.

Standout #3- Jordan Walker

Walker enters the 2026 season with a lot to prove. Can he develop into the player the Cardinals thought he was when they drafted him, or could he be the latest bust?

Walker’s weekend showed measurable progress. Notably, he did not strike out, addressing a major weakness from previous seasons and showing improvement in plate discipline. By consistently putting the ball in play, Walker avoided empty at-bats that had previously hurt the team’s offensive flow.

This approach paid off. Walker’s ground-rule double on Opening Day contributed to sustaining a crucial rally in the eight-run sixth inning. On Saturday, he showcased situational awareness by drawing a walk to lead off extras and scoring the winning run, demonstrating baserunning and patience. On Sunday, his three-hit game—including a three-run homer—reflected both power and consistency at the plate.

It is just three games, but it is a positive start.

Standout #2- Alec Burleson

Fresh off a Silver Slugger award in 2025, Burleson delivered consistent production. His 3-4 performance on Thursday set the tone, as he sparked the eight-run sixth with a single and capped it with a two-run home run. On Saturday, Burleson showed clutch hitting by driving in two more runs when the team needed them.

Defensively, he looked good at first base. Burleson has had time at first base in the past, but will play there full-time this season. His standout defensive play came on Saturday, turning a 3-6-3 double play.

Standout #1- JJ Wetherholt

Wetherholt’s debut series illustrated his patient approach at the plate. Working a 3-2 count in his first at-bat showed patience, and after falling behind 0-2 in his second at-bat, he adjusted and hit his first career home run—demonstrating the ability to recover in challenging counts. His sacrifice fly later highlighted his knack for producing runs in high-leverage moments.

Wetherholt’s Saturday fueled a productive Cardinals’ start with a leadoff single and a stolen base, immediately impacting the first-inning offense. In the tenth with the Cardinals trailing, Wetherholt delivered a two-run walk-off hit to right field.

“I was just going up ready to hit, honestly,” Wetherholt said. “I was in the zone, singing my walk-up song, it’s a good spot to be. Just trying to lock in to the situation and do anything it took to help the team win.”