Players of the Arizona Cardinals for whom concerns may be justified at this point
Revised Base Article:
Saddle up, sports fans, because we're diving headfirst into the chaos that is the 2025 baseball season, especially when it comes to our beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
As I write this, the Cardinals have played a scant 20 games, accounting for a mere 12% of their total regular-season games - not exactly a representative sample, but we can still scope out some red flags none the less.
Ready to drown in some stats and metrics? Buckle up, my friend, because we're about to analyze four Cardinals players who've been causing quite a stir already this season. Fear not, I'm not ready to give up on any of these blokes, but we owe it to ourselves to examine the cold, hard numbers before drawing any conclusions.
Let's put our worrying caps on
Ryan Fernandez
If I were a gambling man, I'd put my money on Ryan Fernandez packing his bags and heading to Memphis real soon to work through the funk he's been wallowing in.
To say things have gone sideways for Fernandez would be an understatement. In nine appearances so far, he's allowed runs in five games, with a staggering nine earned runs already under his belt in 2025. Last year, he was a force to be reckoned with, helping the Cardinals' bullpen shine, but it seems that the shine has worn off for Fernandez, and the cracks are starting to show.
In the first half of the 2024 season, Fernandez posted a sparkling 2.08 ERA. He was one of four fearsome relievers, along with Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, and JoJo Romero, that kept St. Louis' opponents at bay. However, during the second half, Fernandez's numbers took a nosedive, leading to a disappointing 6.17 ERA.
Now, Fernandez seems to be having more success with his fastball than in the previous season, but his slider needs a bit of TLC. Last year, that pitch was a saving grace for him, with hitters only managing a pathetic .182 batting average and a mediocre .295 slugging percentage. But in 2025, Fernandez's slider is a hot mess, with an embarrassing .438 batting average and a punishing .688 slugging percentage.
I'd recommend that Fernandez heads down to Memphis to fine-tune his slider in a less stressful environment. The Cardinals need him to get his act together. If he continues to struggle, they'll have to start looking for alternatives, and the Cup runneth not with prospects waiting in the wings. Let's hope the Cardinals are patient enough to give Fernandez the time he needs to get his mojo back.
[1] Baseball-Reference.com - Ryan Fernandez Stats[2] MLB.com - St. Louis Cardinals Send Ryan Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis[3] Baseball Savant - Ryan Fernandez 2025 stats[4] FanGraphs - Ryan Fernandez Advanced Metrics 2025[5] The Athletic - The St. Louis Cardinals Bullpen Needs an Overhaul
Article Enrichment:
A Closer Look at Ryan Fernandez's Slider Struggles in 2025
Ryan Fernandez's struggles in 2025 have been well-documented, but given the significant impact his slider has on his performance, it's worth taking a closer look at the troubles he's been experiencing with this pitch. It appears that Fernandez's slider, which was a major factor in his success in 2024, has been ineffective in 2025. The slider has become increasingly hittable, leading to a spike in opponents' batting averages and reduced effectiveness overall. Fernandez, his team, and fans alike will be eagerly anticipating his return from Triple-A Memphis, where he's been working to regain control of his coveted slider.
- Despite the Cardinals' promising start to the 2025 season, some trends in certain players' performances are concerning, with Ryan Fernandez's form a particular point of worry.
- The trending topic among St. Louis Cardinals fans is the struggle of Ryan Fernandez, who has been allowing runs in five out of nine appearances this season, with a striking nine earned runs already.
- As baseball enthusiasts eagerly prepare for a potential comeback of the Cardinals in the 2025 MLB marathon, the average performance of key players like Ryan Fernandez will significantly influence their success.
- Though Ryan Fernandez's fastball seems to be improving, it's his struggling slider that's catching fans' attention. This trend, if not addressed, could potentially impact the Cardinals' pitching lineup, as they might need to consider alternatives in the increasingly competitive sports landscape.
