𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

(FTD, St. Louis) Miles Mikolas 2020 season was one full of roller coaster highs and lows. The 32-year-old would start the season in the DL with shoulder pain issues. His eventual return would be a rude awaking after posting a 1-2 (5.93 ERA) in 5 starts. "I just didn't feel good at all. My location was as crappie as my velocity," said Mikolas. Things would take a turn for the positive in both May and June. His 5-3 (3.27 ERA) helped bolster an already flourishing rotation. "It all started feeling better. The ball was coming out of my hand perfectly. That boosted my confidence as well. I was helping my team, instead of hurting." The All-Star break would come and cause serious issues. "That time off killed me. I lost all my positive momentum. It became a trainwreck fast." July and August would see Mikolas go 3-7 (6.19 ERA) heading into the final month. The Cardinals would eventually give Kwang-Hyun Kim his spot in the rotation. It gave Miles some time to step back and recollect himself. "It was good for me. I needed to regroup.". The Cardinals would eventually go on to clinch the division. This would allow Miles to get another start against the Cubs in Chicago. "That start was really big for me. I went 9 innings and only allowed one run against a pretty dang good offense." What happened next would be the toughest news of his career. He wasn't going to be added to the National League Division Series playoff roster. "It was an absolute gut-punch. I totally understood the decision, but it still hurt.". The Cardinals would go with Relief Pitcher Kodi Whitley in his place. "I used that time to stay ready. My bullpens were sharp and I stayed in the Mikes (Mike Shildt, Mike Maddux) ears." The Cardinals would advance to the NLCS and manager Mike Shildt knew it was time. "I love Mik, he's my guy. The organization had to make a difficult decision, but make no mistake we love Mik. I just called him up and told him it's time to go on a business trip." Mikolas would get his first postseason action in the game 3 blowout loss to the Mets. He'd go 4.2 innings and limit the hot Met bats to just 3 runs. It was an outing that General Manager Jonathan Ferguson took notice in. "That was a huge outing. It saved the pen arms for the next 3 games. I called Shildt after that game and said Mik is back. He agreed." The Cardinals would go onto knock out the Mets in an extremely close series. The final chapter of this book would save the best for the last. The World Series. Mikolas would get the news late that he was getting the ball in game one. "I just said Oh Shit". laughed Mikolas. What the veteran would do next will be talked about for a long time. Mikolas would pitch the Cardinals to a complete game, 9-1 victory. He would then be asked to take the ball in the do or die game 7. Manager Mike Shildt's message this time was simple. "I just asked him you wanna finish what you started?" Miles would give his team a chance going 4.1 IP and only allowing 2 runs. It was important because the Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez was masterful. "He kept us hanging around. We needed to be in striking distance and Mik did that." continued Shildt. The rest is history, Cardinals have won the game and Championship. For the Cardinals General Manager, the message was clear. "We don't win that Series without Miles Mikolas. He was the MVP for us." Final Postseason Stats: 3 Games: 18 Innings, 20H, 6 ER, 13K, 1BB, 1.17WHIP, 3.00 ERA