4 Players from the Cardinals team whose performance may be reason for concern
Rewritten Article:
straight up, let's dive into four Cardinals who've already got us scratching our heads this season. No need for doom and gloom here – but it's time to face the facts. We've got enough data to spark a conversation about where things are heading.
Today, I wanna focus on Ryan Fernandez, a guy who might just be hitting the road for Memphis to work out the funk he's found himself in.
Things haven't been rosy for Fernandez so far this campaign. He's racked up nine appearances, with five of those ending in runs, totaling nine earned runs. Now, this ain't exactly what we're used to from the dude who played a huge part in the Cardinals' killer bullpen last year.
You remember 2024, right? That's when Fernandez posted a 2.08 ERA across 43.1 innings in the first half. He was a powerhouse, alongside Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, and JoJo Romero, solidifying the Cardinals' late-inning dominance. But things took a turn during the second half. Over those last 23.1 innings, Fernandez was a woeful 6.17 ERA.
So far this season, Fernandez seems to be nailing his fastball, but his slider has been his undoing. It was his ace in the hole last year, with hitters batting just .182 and slugging .295. But in 2025, it's already a -3 run value, and opposing hitters are teeing off on it for a .438 average and .688 slugging percentage.
I reckon a trip to Memphis might do him some good, let him work on that slider in a less pressure-cooker environment and maybe even cure that funk. For now, he's hurting the team with his performances, but the bullpen ain't exactly flush with replacements. Maybe a road trip to the minors, a quick reflection, and strategy adjustments will be the remedy. Let's see how long the Cardinals will stick with him before pulling the plug.
- Ryan Fernandez's performances this season are causing concern, with his slider currently proving costly, as opposing hitters are averaging .438 and slugging .688 against it.
- The trending poor performance of Ryan Fernandez has resulted in nine earned runs in nine appearances this season, a significant contrast to his impressive 2.08 ERA in the first half of 2024.
- In an attempt to remedy his slump, it's possible that Ryan Fernandez could be sent to Memphis to work on his slider in a less pressurized environment.
- The Cardinals' bullpen is facing a challenge due to Ryan Fernandez's struggles, and a temporary replacement may be needed until the situation improves or a strategic adjustment is made.
