The St. Louis Cardinals’ odds to qualify for the 2023 MLB Playoffs were -225 on Opening Day. Their odds of winning the NL Central were posted at -125. 

Instead, the Cards’ five-year postseason was snapped in emphatic fashion. Not just that, the Cardinals finished dead last in the NL Central. The last time the proud franchise finished last in its division was 1990. 

A team full of high-priced, star veterans now has big decisions to make for 2024 and beyond. 

Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has created the MLB future odds as to when the Cardinals will return to the National League Playoffs. 

Cardinals Next Postseason Appearance Odds

These odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

What Went Wrong For St. Louis? 

The wins total for St. Louis was set at 89.5, the eighth-highest mark in MLB for 2023. Unfortunately, the Cardinals weren’t just winners for Under bettors, they were the first team of the season to guarantee an Under. 

The wheels came off early. The Cards were just 10-18 heading into May, and an 8-15 mark in June marked the end of a real rush. The Cardinals have been successful with a combination of veteran additions, a perennially strong farm system, and an agreement of the Cardinal Way. 

It didn’t come together this season. Only three players started over 122 games. While the offense ranked middle-of-the-pack in runs, average, home runs, and most key metrics, the pitching staff struggled, allowing the most runs in a season since 2009. 

Most key pieces are back for 2024. That includes Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and catcher Willson Contreras, who led the team in WAR. 

Staff ace Miles Mikolas did not have a very good year – an 8-13 record and, a 4.82 ERA. But he was the only starter to show up regularly. Jordan Montgomery finished second on the team in innings pitched – and he got traded in July.   

In the last several years, St. Louis has shied away from signing pitchers to massive contracts. When they did spend big, the signings didn’t work (Steven Matz, Mike Leake, to name a couple). 

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The minor leagues, which have provided STL with many of its standouts for playoff teams, were ranked 22nd in total talent, with just two players ranked in the Top 100. 

The spending trends of the Cardinals has not kept up with the league. Over the past five seasons, the team ranking for payroll has been 8th (2018), 6th (’19), 10th (’20), 11th (’21) and 13th (’22). 

This year, they ranked 17^th. The next two seasons, they’re currently 16th in contracts. The trend toward spending is going in the opposite direction. 

The NL Central, however, remains a wide-open division. While the Cubs are getting back to their spending ways, the Brewers, Reds, and Pirates are frugal in comparison. If St. Louis can ink the right guys and the farm system replenishes, it can return to winning ways sooner than later.