The St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen continues to be a concern, and Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres only reinforced that reality.
Right-hander Kyle Leahy delivered a respectable performance, allowing three earned runs over six innings. Although St. Louis trailed 3-1 when he exited, the game remained within reach. However, things quickly unraveled after the bullpen took over.
Chris Roycroft was called upon to finish the final 1⅓ innings but struggled significantly. The 28-year-old surrendered three earned runs while throwing 42 pitches, with just 22 finding the strike zone. Through seven major league appearances this season, Roycroft now owns a troubling 15.19 ERA.
Given the bullpen’s ongoing struggles and the team’s playoff aspirations, the Cardinals may need to consider making a roster adjustment sooner rather than later. While seven appearances represent a limited sample size, the organization has several promising alternatives available in Triple-A Memphis.
One potential solution would be recalling Hunter Dobbins. The Cardinals could either use him directly in relief or insert him into the starting rotation, allowing Leahy to return to a bullpen role where he enjoyed success during the 2025 season.
Another intriguing candidate is Luis Gastelum. The 23-year-old right-hander has been one of Memphis’ most reliable arms, posting a 2.68 ERA across 29 appearances entering Wednesday. Compared to Roycroft’s 5.84 ERA in 23 Triple-A outings, Gastelum appears to have earned consideration for a promotion.
Max Rajcic is another pitcher making a strong case for a major league opportunity. The right-hander has recorded a 2.95 ERA in 25 appearances at Triple-A and continues to impress with his consistency.
If the Cardinals prefer to keep Leahy in the rotation, top prospect Quinn Mathews remains another possibility. The young left-hander has continued to attract attention in the minors and is widely viewed as a pitcher who could contribute at the big league level in the near future.
The Cardinals have already shown this season that they are willing to make decisive roster moves when necessary. With the bullpen remaining a weakness on an otherwise competitive club, the organization has several viable options to explore if it decides a change is needed.
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