Three Baseball Cardinals Whose Performance on the Team Seems Unjustified After the Month of May
The St. Louis Cardinals are in a patient waiting game for the 2025 season. This year is all about giving young guns a chance to shine and prove their worth. Players like Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II, and Matthew Liberatore are under close observation by the front office as they grow and show off their skills.
However, patience has its limits, and if a player fails to deliver, the club might be forced to take action. Some players have already demonstrated that they may be at risk of a demotion or being benched completely. Others were on a short leash to start with and haven't provided a compelling reason for management to hang on.
Chris Roycroft, unfortunately, falls into the latter category. His demotion to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday was possible due to his poor performance this season. Despite a strong Spring Training in 2024, where he didn't give up an earned run in eight innings with eight strikeouts and a .207 batting average against him, Roycroft has struggled in 2025. His sinker, which averaged 96 MPH last year with 1.5 inches of induced vertical break, is now averaging just 94.1 MPH with 8.8 inches of induced vertical break, showing a clear mechanical issue.
Roycroft acknowledges the problem himself, stating, "I needed to go out there, especially after two stressful outings. You can do all the work you want on the side and before the game, but sometimes you just go out there and let everything else work the way it's supposed to. We're on our way to figuring out where we were last year and the way we usually move the ball. I think that's going to be fine."
Despite attempts to work through the issues, Roycroft's 7.94 ERA through 5.2 innings and a batter's .263 batting average against have been concerning. Right-handed relievers like Roddery Munoz, Andre Granillo, and Riley O'Brien could potentially take his place.
Chris Roycroft isn't a player the Cardinals are focusing on for the 2025 season; he seems more like a stepping stone for other relief pitchers perfecting their crafts in the minors. If the Cardinals want a reliable middle reliever, it would be wise for them to turn to one of O'Brien, Munoz, or Granillo.
Meanwhile, three St. Louis Cardinals have already shown that they don't deserve to be on the roster at the end of April. Performance-related criticisms and role-fit concerns have made Michael McGreevy, Steven Matz, and Mat Koperniak questionable picks. The team's early-season struggles might be more related to systemic issues, such as bullpen collapses, road performance, and overall pitching performance rather than individual players. It's essential to keep an eye on injuries, minor-league performance, and potential May call-ups for more accurate roster predictions as the season unfolds.
- The St. Louis Cardinals are monitoring Jordan Walker closely, just like they have been watching Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson, Victor Scott II, and Matthew Liberatore, as they prepare for the 2025 season.
- With the demotion of Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis, the Cardinals might consider Riley O'Brien, Roddery Munoz, or Andre Granillo for potential promotion to their middle relief role, given Roycroft's poor performance this season.
- The Cardinals' early-season struggles might not solely be attributed to individual players like Michael McGreevy, Steven Matz, and Mat Koperniak, whose performances and role-fit have raised concerns, but rather to systemic issues such as bullpen collapses, road performance, and overall pitching performance.
- As the 2025 season progresses, the Cardinals need to keep a close watch on injuries, minor-league performance, and potential May call-ups for more accurate roster predictions, as these factors can significantly impact the team's performance.
