Opening Week has finally arrived, ushering in a new era led by Chaim Bloom as the St. Louis Cardinals prepare to host the Tampa Bay Rays. With the 2026 season about to begin, this marks the conclusion of a six-part breakdown of the roster, comparing last year’s performance to expectations for the upcoming campaign.
One key takeaway: this Cardinals squad is unlikely to regress as sharply as projections suggest. Still, the bullpen—arguably the most fluid unit on a rebuilding team remains a major question mark. With roles now mostly settled, it’s finally possible to evaluate how this group stacks up.
A bullpen Built for a Rebuilding Team
Modern bullpen usage has shifted toward flexibility rather than fixed late-inning roles, and St. Louis is following that trend. After moving on from Ryan Helsley, the team is expected to rely on matchup-based relievers rather than a traditional closer. Given modest expectations for wins, save chances may be limited anyway.
However, even rebuilding teams need to protect leads when they arise. While the Cardinals’ bullpen has posted respectable advanced metrics in recent years, it has lacked strikeout power—ranking near the bottom of the league in that category. A shift toward higher-velocity pitching could help, but for now, the bullpen hasn’t been a primary focus of roster upgrades.
Sorting Out Late-inning Roles
Following Helsley’s departure, JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien handled most save opportunities late last season. Romero could still be traded to boost his value, leaving uncertainty about his long-term role despite his closing experience.
That opens the door for O’Brien or Matt Svanson to take on closing duties, at least on paper. Svanson, in particular, may fill a versatile “firefighter” role, entering high-leverage situations across different innings. Given O’Brien’s injury history and inconsistency, it wouldn’t be surprising to see multiple pitchers share save opportunities throughout the year.
Depth and Constant Turnover
Beyond the top options, the bullpen picture becomes increasingly fluid. Like many teams in today’s game, the Cardinals are expected to cycle through middle relievers frequently. Justin Bruihl could serve as a situational lefty, while several minor-league arms may rotate in as needed.
Additional names such as Ryne Stanek, George Soriano, and Gordon Graceffo round out the group, each bringing varying levels of upside and uncertainty. Stanek could even see closing opportunities early on, potentially boosting his trade value.
Meanwhile, Rule 5 pick Matt Pushard faces an uncertain roster spot, especially if other players force their way onto the team. Behind the current group, additional depth options remain in the pipeline, with some prospects potentially transitioning into relief roles.
Outlook for 2026
Ultimately, this bullpen may not be a defining strength of the 2026 Cardinals. The most notable storyline could end up being the trade return for Romero rather than consistent late-inning dominance. There’s potential for O’Brien or Svanson to emerge as key contributors, but it’s just as likely the team leans on a revolving door of relievers throughout the season.
Regardless of how it unfolds, meaningful baseball is back and the Cardinals’ bullpen will be one of the more intriguing areas to watch.
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