The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a productive week. They ended the week with a loss, but it was their only one. The Cardinals went 6-1 on the week, including a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates and taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a great way to end April and begin May. As we reflect on a fun week, let’s take a look at the standout players of the week.
Cardinals’ Standouts of the Week
Standout #3- Alec Burleson
The Cardinals had a great week offensively, and Burleson was right in the middle of it. He recorded at least one hit in every game this week. Furthermore, he recorded at least one RBI in every game but one. Other players contributed to the offensive production this week, but Burleson was definitely one of the standouts.
When the Cardinals shook up the roster this winter, it created the opportunity for Burleson to be a mainstay at the heart of the order. He had shown he was a force with the bat, winning a Silver Slugger last season. However, it was worth wondering how he would do now that he was “the guy” in the lineup.
Well, he is doing very well. His production has been consistent since Opening Day. This has been especially beneficial as the Cardinals have had to move their order around due to some players hitting cold spells at various points. As the season continues, the Cardinals will need Burleson to be that consistent source of production. His role on the team cannot be overstated. He holds significant influence.
Standout #2- JJ Wetherholt
This past week was a special one for Wetherholt. The 23-year-old grew up rooting for the Pirates, with Andrew McCutchen being his favorite player. When he played collegiately at West Virginia, he got to play games at PNC Park a few times. Pittsburgh holds a special place for Wetherholt, and a four-game series with family and friends in attendance was already a moment to remember.
Then the games started. Wetherholt made his mark all over the series sweep. He hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Monday’s win and hit another on Thursday. He ended the series with six hits, two home runs, and drove in three runs. He got on base leading off Thursday’s game, setting the stage for the Cardinals to get to Paul Skenes early, scoring three runs off the Pirates’ ace.
JJ Wetherholt’s first “road” homer in the Majors comes at his hometown ballpark in front of his parents!
?Pittsburgh, PA | @Cardinals pic.twitter.com/4DkvtNbs6L
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 28, 2026
This has been a fun start to Wetherholt’s rookie season. The batting average is not as high as it could be, but he is delivering hits in clutch moments. At 23, he does not seem fazed by key moments. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how he builds upon his success so far.
Standout #1- Jordan Walker
The Cardinals are finally seeing the Walker they hoped for when they drafted him. The right fielder had a big series against the Pirates, including a home run off Skenes in the Thursday finale. However, he had an even better series against the Dodgers this weekend. He started the weekend with a 4-4 game on Friday and hit a home run on Saturday. Walker did cool off on Sunday, but he still played a key role in the Cardinals winning a series against the two-time defending World Series champions.
Walker has 10 home runs already. He is on pace for around 47 home runs. However, his success is not just about the numbers; it is about how much he has improved from last year. In 2025, Walker hit just .215 and hit six home runs. Many were ready to label him as a bust. His performance so far is a sign that the Cardinals were right to keep giving him a chance. If Walker can continue to produce, this will go a long way in speeding up the team’s rebuild. It is weird to think that, following an off-season in which the Cardinals blew up their roster, they may already be on pace for a quicker rebuild.
Walker has helped accomplish that. There is a lot of baseball. We are not trying to get ahead of ourselves. But what Walker has done is worth acknowledging and celebrating. He is proving the doubters wrong, and Cardinal Nation is loving it.
The Week Ahead
The Cardinals continue a busy May with a three-game series at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. There will be no rest for the weary, as the team hits the road right after for a four-game set with the San Diego Padres.
It will be hard to top a 6-1 week, but we can assume the Cardinals will try their best.
Main Photo: Joe Puetz- Imagn Images
