The St. Louis Cardinals are in an odd position entering the All-Star break.
They are only a few games out of a Wild Card spot and have, at times, looked like one of the best teams in MLB.
The Cardinals’ Problem Lies in ‘At Times’
Before the season, the Cardinals were predicted to be one of the worst teams in the MLB. However, they have exceeded expectations and are in the race for a National League Wild Card spot.
Behind a breakout season from 24-year-old All-Star Jordan Walker, the Cardinals’ offense has flourished. Walker was selected to his first All-Star team this year and will also compete in the Home Run Derby.
While Walker and other teammates such as Alec Burleson lead a high-powered offense, the pitching remains a problem for the Cardinals. Specifically, the bullpen pitching. No pitchers in the Cardinals bullpen have an ERA lower than 3.0.
Cardinals’ Bummer Bullpen
The only bright spot in the Cardinals’ bullpen is closer Riley O’Brien. O’Brien is the Cardinals’ second and final All-Star after Jordan Walker. Despite his All-Star status, the closer has definitely been shaky as of late.
O’Brien has blown four saves, which is tied for the fourth-most in the MLB at this point. He also has a relatively high ERA for a closer, sitting at 3.62.
Many consider O’Brien a middle-tier closer, and the fact that he is the strongest pitcher in the Cardinals’ bullpen is a problem. This has led the Cardinals to have nearly the most blown leads in the MLB.
Cardinals’ fans are upset with the bullpen, but there has been no indication of any change. Therefore, there is a fiery offense going into the break with no real support behind them.
Slump Starting
Historically, offensive-minded teams dip in efficiency after the All-Star break. So, with the Cardinals hovering in the middle of the league because of their offense, they are likely to enter a slump.
The harsh reality for Cardinals fans is that they have a team that, despite being exciting, does not meet the requirements that an MLB contender must have. The front office planned for this to be a rebuilding year, and the team has simply exceeded expectations.
The fact that the Cardinals have exceeded expectations is something that the fans should rejoice at, though. Although a post-All-Star break slump seems inevitable, not making the playoffs does not destroy the team’s future. They have a young and solid core that will last for years to come. This solid season could be a building block for free agents looking to compete in the coming offseasons.
Therefore, whether the Cardinals slump or not, fans have something to look forward to. That’s something that fans of many other MLB franchises can’t say. Even if Cardinals fans are demanding a deep postseason run this year, there is still hope, as they are nowhere near out of the race despite what the analytics say.
Remember, Billy Beane never won a World Series because he only trusted the stats, but sometimes they are wrong.
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