The St. Louis Cardinals couldn’t have picked a worse time to hit a rough patch.
With less than two weeks remaining before the MLB trade deadline, every game carries added weight, and every weakness is becoming impossible to ignore. On Monday night, the Cardinals suffered one of their most frustrating defeats of the season, falling to the Los Angeles Angels on a dramatic walk-off hit-by-pitch that once again exposed the club’s biggest concern heading into the deadline.
The heartbreaking loss extended St. Louis’ losing streak to three games and intensified the debate over whether the front office should buy, sell, or stand pat before Aug. 3.
Bullpen Meltdown Seals Another Tough Loss
The game ended in stunning fashion when reliever Riley O’Brien hit a batter with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the winning run to score without the Angels recording a hit in the final at-bat.
The loss was even more painful considering what it meant for Los Angeles.
The Angels snapped a staggering 106-game losing streak in games where they trailed entering the ninth inning. They also improved to just 1-48 this season when trailing after eight innings, making the Cardinals the unfortunate team that ended one of baseball’s most unlikely streaks.
For St. Louis, it was another missed opportunity in a season that has exceeded expectations but is suddenly showing signs of unraveling.
Cardinals’ Bullpen Continues to Struggle
If there was any doubt about the Cardinals’ biggest weakness entering the trade deadline, the bullpen erased it over the past several games.
The relief corps has struggled to protect leads and keep games within reach, putting additional pressure on a starting rotation that has largely carried the team throughout the season.
Monday’s defeat was just the latest example.
O’Brien surrendered two runs in the loss, but he wasn’t alone. During the previous game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryne Stanek, George Soriano, and Gordon Graceffo all allowed runs, while Luis Gastelum was charged with an unearned run.
Over the last two games, every reliever used by the Cardinals has allowed at least one run, a troubling trend that has transformed close games into costly defeats.
Numbers Paint a Concerning Picture
The statistics back up what Cardinals fans have witnessed on the field.
St. Louis currently owns a 4.28 bullpen ERA, ranking 19th in Major League Baseball, while the team’s overall ERA over the past week sits at 4.67, ranking 20th in the league during that span.
Those numbers simply aren’t good enough for a team hoping to remain in the National League playoff race.
The bullpen’s struggles have become even more noticeable since JoJo Romero landed on the injured list. Although Romero’s absence has certainly weakened the relief unit, the recent problems extend well beyond one injury.
Too many pitchers have struggled simultaneously, leaving manager and coaches with fewer dependable late-inning options.
Trade Deadline Plans Becoming More Complicated
Coming into the season, the Cardinals weren’t expected to contend.
Under new baseball operations leader Chaim Bloom, 2026 was viewed as the beginning of a roster reset, with many expecting veteran players to be moved before the trade deadline.
Instead, St. Louis surprised much of baseball by outperforming preseason expectations and forcing the front office to reconsider its plans. Rather than becoming obvious sellers, the Cardinals positioned themselves as potential buyers who could strengthen the roster for a playoff push.
Now, however, the recent slump has complicated that decision.
The club has dropped six of its last 10 games and is struggling to maintain momentum during one of the most important stretches of the season.
Time Is Running Out
Despite the recent slide, the Cardinals remain three games above .500, keeping them firmly within striking distance in the National League postseason race.
But with the trade deadline rapidly approaching, the front office can no longer ignore the team’s most glaring flaw.
If St. Louis hopes to stay in contention and make a serious push toward October baseball, reinforcing the bullpen may no longer be optional—it may be the move that determines whether the Cardinals remain playoff contenders or watch another promising season slip away.
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