Cardinals, Nationals seek to improve for 2027 rebuilding efforts
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 12:09 PM
Last updated Sep 19, 2026
The St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals, both eliminated from 2026 playoff contention, look to rebuild for the upcoming season. They have performed better than expected this year, with the Cardinals close to a.500 record and the Nationals boasting a positive run differential. Key areas for improvement include their struggling bullpens, which ranked low in various metrics. Both teams aim to develop their young talent and address weaknesses to enhance their competitiveness in 2027.
- •Cardinals and Nationals below.500 as of September 19, 2026.
- •Both teams showed unexpected competitiveness this season.
- •Cardinals' bullpen ranks 24th in ERA and 22nd in FIP.
- •Nationals' bullpen ranks 29th in ERA and K% metrics.
- •Both teams have young core players to build around.
- 12:09 PMCBS MLB — How the Nationals and Cardinals, two of MLB's biggest surprises in 2026, can speed up their rebuilds in 2027
"Their surprise stories ended too early to be true playoff contenders this season, but these teams seem poised to compete sooner than later
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