Mikolas on improving two-strike approach: 'Work smarter, not harder'

JUPITER, Fla. -- Miles Mikolas didn't have issues burying batters in a two-strike count the past couple seasons.

Putting them away was a different story.

“I got a new boat this winter,” Mikolas said. “I almost named it Too Many Strikes -- you know, too many hittable pitches there in counts when I don't need to throw them.”

Last season, Mikolas was one of the worst pitchers in baseball when it came to opponents' batting average with two strikes.

The 78 hits he allowed with two strikes tied Mikolas with Patrick Corbin for most in MLB, the second consecutive year Mikolas topped that list. Opposing batters hit .223 off Mikolas with two strikes, the second-highest average against for any pitcher in baseball.

A two-time All-Star, Mikolas owns a 19-24 combined record over the past two seasons, with ERAs of 4.78 in 2023 and 5.35 last year. The 226 hits surrendered by Mikolas in 2023 led the Majors. Last year he again surrendered more hits than innings pitched -- 194 in 171 2/3 innings.

“His stuff has actually improved,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “When you look at location, it's about the same. And you look at two-strike location, there's the area for improvement. He's well-aware of it.”

Always known as a strike thrower, the 36-year-old right-hander believes that reputation sometimes works against him.

“That's been a bug-a-boo for me almost my whole career, putting guys away,” said Mikolas, who came within one strike of a no-hitter against the Pirates in 2022. “So, it's been a thing I've always worked on, and last year was maybe one of my worst years with it. And then you get a reputation for throwing a lot of strikes in every count and guys are swinging a lot, so you've got to find something else.”

That something can be a combination of better scouting report recognition and improved pitch execution.

“There's guys that will watch pitches and guys that swing away,” Mikolas said. “And it's maybe knowing those hitters a little bit better, doing my homework a little bit better and just being smarter. Work smarter, not harder.”

Unlike most pitchers who tend to become wild when they reach back for a little extra on their fastballs, Mikolas' fastballs have the tendency to all-too-often become center-cut cookies when he tries to blow away a batter in a two-strike count. That contributed to the 10 two-strike homers Mikolas allowed last season.

To aid his quest for more chases outside the zone, Mikolas has been developing what he calls his “Big Slider.”

He's only been throwing the pitch for a couple years, but likes the way it now complements his curve and cutter.

“It's something I've kind of been working on in the winter and working on this spring,” Mikolas said. “It's another pitch to have.”

Just don't label the pitch a “sweeper.”

“It's a slider,” Mikolas said. “I mean, guys have been throwing this sweeper pitch for 20 years, and it's just, they just called it a slider -- or a slurve, even. But someone called it a sweeper, and now everyone calls it that. I'm just calling it a slider.”

Mikolas threw his first live bullpen session of Spring Training on Friday, and both he and Marmol came away feeling positive.

Minor League catcher Wade Stauss, who has caught Mikolas' bullpens in previous springs and was behind the plate on Friday, said Mikolas' outing had the look of a “midseason ‘pen.”

“Arm's in great shape,” Stauss said. “Everything's moving.”

Even with his two-strike struggles, Mikolas continues to be an innings eater for the Cardinals. He threw 171 2/3 last season, the first time in three years he didn't top 200 innings.

Along with helping pitch the Cardinals into the playoffs, Mikolas' personal goals for 2025 include continuing to take the ball every fifth day.

“A successful season is a healthy season -- wire to wire, 162 games, 30-some-odd starts,” Mikolas said. “And better numbers than last year.”