In recent seasons, the St. Louis Cardinals have faced their fair share of ups and downs, struggling to consistently compete at the highest level but still managing to stay in the postseason conversation. On this breakdown page, we dive into some electrifying moments that showcase the team’s rollercoaster ride, like Nick Castellanos’ explosive grand slam off J. Happ that left the Reds celebrating early and his memorable bat flip that signaled his dominance over the Cardinals’ ace, Jack Flaherty. We’ll also relive the anticipation surrounding Jordan Hicks’ much-anticipated return to the mound after a long hiatus, highlighting how even in low-stress situations, baseball can always throw a surprise or two. Whether it’s epic clashes or dramatic comebacks, you’ll find the key moments that define the Cardinals’ journey right here.
Most Popular St. Louis Cardinals Breakdowns of All Time
Cardinals ask to check hitters bat after he hits a grand slam
During a game between the Cardinals and Reds, Nick Castellanos crushed a grand slam off J. Happ to blow things open early. The Reds had loaded the bases with three solid singles, setting the stage for Castellanos, who has owned Happ historically.
View count: 5,806,551 (last updated at conclusion of 2025 season).
Benches Clear after Castellanos Flexes over Pitcher
Nick Castellanos kicked off the season with a no-doubt homer off Jack Flaherty and added flair with a big bat flip and an even bigger strut. The next day, in what looked like a possible response, he got plunked by the first pitch from Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford. Castellanos seemed to check in with Yadier Molina to see if it was intentional.
View count: 4,551,696 (last updated at conclusion of 2025 season).
The longest at-bat in MLB history
Jordan Hicks made his return to the mound for the Cardinals after nearly two years away due to injury and the pandemic. It was just a spring training outing, and the plan was to keep it low-stress. That plan didn’t last.
View count: 3,553,796 (last updated at conclusion of 2025 season).
Yadier Molina knows what the other team is going to do
The Cardinals were up 1-0 on the Giants in the fifth inning with runners on the corners and two outs when Yadier Molina took over both as catcher and field leader. The manager came out to talk to the pitcher, but Yadi waved him off. Molina read the game situation, saw what the Giants were setting up, and directed the pitcher to throw fastballs.
View count: 2,947,039 (last updated at conclusion of 2025 season).
Harper gets hit in the face and Girardi gets ejected
The Phillies-Cardinals game in St. Louis turned tense fast in the sixth inning. With the score tied 3-3, Bryce Harper led off the inning and took a 96 mph fastball to the face on the first pitch from reliever Génesis Cabrera.
View count: 2,760,517 (last updated at conclusion of 2025 season).
The Latest St. Louis Cardinals Breakdown Videos
- Manager goes crazy after umpires miss four calls, a breakdown
- Bill Belichick furious at refs (NFL Week 2 Recap), a breakdown
- The balls were slippery (NFL Week 1 Recap), a breakdown
- Mikolas drills Happ for accidentally injuring catcher, a breakdown
- Willson Contreras uses pitch clock to his advantage against Kenley Jansen, a breakdown
- Dusty Baker calls Tony La Russa and the Cardinals a bunch of punks, a breakdown
- Unbelievable comeback in the 9th inning, a breakdown
- Pujols hits his 699th and 700th homers in the same game, a breakdown
- Manager tells umpire he needs to retire, a breakdown
- Umpires say this pitch hit Pete Alonso, a breakdown
- Yadier Molina knows what the other team is going to do, a breakdown
- Mets and Cardinals brawl, a breakdown
For the full list of St. Louis Cardinals breakdowns, visit the St. Louis Cardinals tag page.