The St. Louis Cardinals face a tough challenge ahead.
Ryan Helsley was traded to the New York Mets, making his debut with the team on Friday night. He pitched one inning, giving up two hits while striking out three batters. His season ERA now stands at 2.92 after 37 appearances.
With Helsley out, how will the Cardinals address the closer position? Katie Woo from The Athletic offered some perspective on the choice St. Louis will need to make soon.
“Oli Marmol says the Cardinals will go closer by committee, acknowledged that while JoJo Romero is probably best built to close, the fact that he’s their lone lefty reliever complicates usage,” Woo said.
The Cardinals had been linked to trade rumors involving Helsley for months, so his departure isn’t exactly a shock. After their loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday, the team now sits at a 55-56 record through 111 games. Despite their struggles, the Cardinals’ bullpen has been one of the league’s top performers this season, currently ranking sixth in MLB with a 3.51 ERA.
It’s tough to lose someone like Helsley, along with Steven Matz and Phil Maton, but there is still enough talent here to at least keep the bullpen above water. It’s going to be tougher now, but the Cardinals have pieces to replace Helsley.
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