This story was excerpted from John Denton¡¯s Cardinals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ST. LOUIS -- Among the most encouraging and quite concerning things to emerge from the first half of the season was that the Cardinals were able to compile one of the best two-month stretches in the Major Leagues without much dynamic production from cornerstone veterans Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.

St. Louis headed into the break for the MLB All-Star Game thinking something like this: If it could go 35-22 -- as it did from May 12-July 14 -- with Goldschmidt and Arenado still struggling to regain the form that could someday make them Hall of Famers, what could the Redbirds do if those star players hit extended hot stretches in the coming months?

The Cardinals wiped aside a 15-24 start with one of the best bullpens in baseball, better-than-expected starting pitching from an aging staff and offensive surges from Alec Burleson, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan and Masyn Winn. They recently got Lars Nootbaar and Contreras back from injuries, and Tommy Edman could be back before August. If they could add big finishes from Arenado and Goldschmidt to it, the Cardinals think they might be able to make a deep push into the playoffs.

¡°Our rotation has done exactly what we would want them to do,¡± manager Oliver Marmol said. ¡°Our bullpen has been as good as any other bullpen and as consistent as any ¡¯pen. They've been really, really good.

¡°Our offense is just now starting to come together. Having Contreras back in the lineup, [Nootbaar] back in the lineup and [Goldschmidt] and [Arenado] are taking better swings. If it starts to head in the direction where I think it's headed [with Goldschmidt and Arenado], and everything else stays the same ¡­ I mean, it could be a lot of fun to watch.¡±

With that in mind, here are some things to watch for in the second half of the season:

One second-half goal: Win the NL Central
Before losing to the rival Cubs on Sunday, St. Louis got to within 3 1/2 games of first place in the NL Central -- the closest it had been to the Brewers since April 18. The Cardinals turned around their season with a May 12 defeat of the Brewers, going 35-22 since that victory. Now, they must prove they can run down Milwaukee and beat the Crew over the second half of the season. They play each other six more times -- Aug. 20-22 in St. Louis and Sept. 2-4 in Milwaukee.

Likely Trade Deadline strategy: Buyers
For the first time in decades, the Cardinals were sellers at the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, dealing away five pitchers for a bevy of prospects. Now, the Cards will use those prospects and others to try and lure pitching help and maybe a difference-making right-handed bat to St. Louis. Two pitchers the Cards will likely target, per a source: Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and Rays righty Zach Eflin.

Key players for the second half: Arenado and Goldschmidt
Strong seasons from Burleson, Contreras, Donovan and rookie Winn have helped St. Louis overcome the season-long struggles of Arenado and Goldschmidt. No one has seen more 0-2 counts this season than Goldschmidt, who has looked in between on pitches too often. As for Arenado, injuries to both arms have robbed him of his power. If the Cards are to put together a playoff push and a deep run, they must get their two star players going offensively.

Prospect to watch: Jordan Walker
The organization¡¯s former top prospect started the season in the big leagues before being sent to Triple-A Memphis -- as was the case in 2023. Last season, Walker returned to St. Louis in early June and thrived down the stretch (.818 OPS in 26 games in September). The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Walker has struggled lifting balls and hitting them out of the park, but the Cards still believe he can be a superstar slugger. Walker could be just the right-handed bat St. Louis needs to bolster its lefty-loaded lineup.