What the data shows
What does the future hold for the St. Louis Cardinals as they enter the 2026 season? With a projected 75 wins, the team aims to improve after missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The Cardinals have made strategic shifts in their bullpen, moving away from traditional roles to a matchup-based approach, which they hope will enhance their performance.
The Cardinals’ bullpen is expected to be mostly settled before the season begins. JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien, who combined for 14 of the team’s 16 saves over the last two months of the previous season, are at the forefront of this new strategy. O’Brien is anticipated to take on the closer role, while Matt Svanson is expected to fill a firefighter position, stepping in during critical moments of games.
Justin Bruihl is projected to be the Opening Day lefty for less critical innings, often referred to as garbage innings. This shift in strategy reflects a broader trend in Major League Baseball where teams are increasingly relying on specialized roles within their bullpens. The Cardinals’ bullpen has ranked 11th in baseball in fWAR over the last three seasons, indicating a need for improvement.
Despite the changes in the bullpen, the Cardinals have not made significant adjustments to their broadcast team, even as they transition to new television channels. The team will produce most of their games through Major League Baseball after ending their partnership with FanDuel Sports Network. Fans can still catch games through various cable providers, including Charter/Spectrum and AT&T U-verse, with MLB.TV subscriptions available for those outside the Cardinals’ television footprint at a cost of $29.99 per month or $149.99 for the season.
As the team prepares for the upcoming season, there are still uncertainties regarding the exact roles of the bullpen pitchers. The impact of the new pitching philosophy on the bullpen’s performance remains uncertain. The command of pitchers like George Soriano has been questioned, and if he can improve his average walk rate in 2026, he could become a valuable asset for the Cardinals.
Furthermore, the competition for roster spots is heating up. If the Cardinals decide that Nelson Velazquez has earned a job on the Opening Day roster with his great spring performance, it could mean that Matt Pushard may be the odd man out. This kind of decision-making is crucial for the team’s success as they aim to learn how to win and improve their standing in the league.
As the Cardinals look to rebound from a disappointing previous season, they are focused on building a competitive team that can contend in the National League. The upcoming season will be a test of their new strategies and player development, and fans will be watching closely to see if these changes yield the desired results.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final composition of the bullpen and the overall effectiveness of the new strategies. However, the Cardinals’ management is optimistic about the potential for improvement as they head into the 2026 season.
