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2026 Cardinals bullpen struggles amidst lost promise and past comparisons

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 28, 2026, 12:15 PM

Last updated Oct 28, 2026

2026 Cardinals bullpen struggles amidst lost promise and past comparisons

Summary

The 2026 St. Louis Cardinals bullpen has faced significant struggles, reminiscent of their performance in 2018. This year's unit has ranked near the bottom of the league in both fWAR and ERA, sparking concerns about organizational decisions regarding bullpen construction. Comparisons are drawn to previous years like 2018, when the Cardinals finished with a 88-74 record but missed the playoffs due to a weak bullpen. As the season progresses, the Cardinals' bullpen must improve to avoid repeating past failures.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•2026 Cardinals bullpen ranks #25 in fWAR and ERA.
•Similar struggles noted in 2018, contributing to a missed playoff berth.
•Previous years saw bullpen strengths, including 2021's playoff push.
•Gordon Graceffo has emerged as the most valuable member by fWAR.
•Cardinals' bullpen performance has been consistently mid since 2023.

Latest Updates

12:15 PMYahoo Sports — Trying to Find Another Bad Cardinals Bullpen in recent times

What they're saying

"
This week, I set out on a quest to find a bullpen as bad or worse than the 2026 Cardinals bullpen. We all found it aggravating at times, with only a few bright spots if we were paying attention. The closer was an enigma with a lot of saves, and a lot of memorable blown […]
— Yahoo Sports

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