The St. Louis Cardinals enter the March 29, 2025, matchup against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium looking to build early-season momentum after finishing the 2024 campaign with a respectable but ultimately underwhelming 83-79 record that left them short of the postseason in a competitive National League. The departure of longtime cornerstone Paul Goldschmidt, who signed with the New York Yankees in the offseason, marked a significant shift for the franchise and created a leadership and production gap in the lineup, one that third baseman Nolan Arenado is now expected to fill as the team’s offensive focal point. Arenado, who hit 16 home runs and drove in 73 runs in 2024, has acknowledged the need to elevate his performance, especially in the absence of Goldschmidt’s power bat, and he’ll be supported by emerging contributors like Alec Burleson, Brendan Donovan, and Lars Nootbaar, all of whom showed flashes of offensive potential last season. Burleson, in particular, is being counted on to make a leap after a strong spring training where he displayed improved plate discipline and gap-to-gap hitting. The Cardinals have also added depth to their infield and outfield rotations, giving manager Oliver Marmol more flexibility in lineups and matchups depending on opposing pitchers. On the mound, the team will turn to veteran right-hander Sonny Gray to start against Minnesota, following a solid 2024 campaign in which he posted an 11-8 record with a 3.91 ERA, while continuing to be one of the more reliable arms in the league in terms of innings and durability.

Gray’s ability to generate soft contact and command both sides of the plate makes him a steady presence at the front of the rotation, especially important early in the season as the bullpen settles into defined roles. Speaking of the bullpen, it was a point of concern last year, but offseason efforts to address those shortcomings appear promising, with improved depth and competition for high-leverage innings coming from both veteran holdovers and newly promoted relievers. The Cardinals also emphasized defense and fundamentals during spring training, aiming to clean up an area that proved costly in close games last season, and their staff continues to preach aggressive but smart base running and tighter defensive alignments. The atmosphere at Busch Stadium remains energized, and fans are eager to see how this reshaped roster performs against a Twins team that similarly seeks a bounce-back year. Opening the season at home offers a key opportunity to establish rhythm and confidence, particularly with divisional matchups looming in early April. While expectations are tempered slightly following the loss of a franchise icon, the Cardinals believe their balanced mix of veteran leadership, rising talent, and reliable pitching positions them to be a legitimate postseason contender once again. This game will serve as an early measuring stick not only for Arenado and Gray but also for the organization’s offseason blueprint and their ability to transition into a new era of Cardinals baseball with purpose and competitive fire.