Cardinals' Oli Marmol is MLB's best manager amid surprisingly hot start
This start to the year for the Cardinals and Marmol was not expected at all.
Cardinals' Oli Marmol is MLB's best manager amid surprisingly hot start originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The 2026 MLB season has produced plenty of fun storylines, and the St.
Louis Cardinals are at the center of three big stories through the first month or so of the season. Jordan Walker's breakout has been an extremely exciting storyline this year, as has been the rookie season of JJ Wetherholt so far. But, overall, the Cardinals' record to begin the season might be the most surprising of the bunch.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale , amid the surprising 20-13 start to the year for the Cardinals, called Oli Marmol the league's best manager so far this season. With how well the Cardinals are playing compared to expectations, this is well deserved. Oli Marmol has been MLB's best manager "Best manager, Oli Marmol, St.
Louis Cardinals," Nightengale writes. "How in the world is this team winning with a young, rebuilding roster like this? Coming into the 2026 MLB season, the Cardinals were viewed as a rebuilding team with little hope of contending in 2026.