Cardinals, Nationals Bullpen Fix Is Path to 2027 Contention — SkimNews
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- Nationals and Cardinals were projected for roughly 100 losses entering 2026 but both exceeded expectations; Washington posted a positive run differential, and St. Louis still has a shot at finishing .500 or better after both clubs were eliminated from playoff contention.
- Both teams' bullpens rank at or near the top of MLB in blown saves and FanGraphs meltdowns and near the bottom in K% and FIP, with Washington's unit described as 'gallingly bad,' making reliever improvement the single biggest to-do for 2027.
- Washington's offense ranks among MLB's best and is the youngest lineup in the league, anchored by All-Star James Wood, infielder CJ Abrams (whom the club has refused to trade), and 24-year-old former No. 2 overall pick Dylan Crews.
- St. Louis fields the second-youngest lineup in MLB, built around JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker, and Alec Burleson, with catcher Leo Bernal's emergence leaving only third base and center field as question marks for 2027.
- Cardinals rotation options for 2027 include Kyle Leahy, Michael McGreevy, and Andre Pallante as fixtures, with Quinn Mathews, Matthew Liberatore, Richard Fitts, Cooper Hjerpe, Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Mason Molina competing for the final two spots.
- Nationals rotation features Cade Cavalli at the front and could add Connelly Early, acquired from the Red Sox ahead of the trade deadline, plus controllable lefty Andrew Alvarez and flame-throwing prospect Jarlin Susana.
- CBA negotiations are an X-factor: owners pushed for a 14-team playoff in the last round and another expansion is likely, which would lower the bar for relevance and give emerging clubs like St. Louis and Washington an easier path into the postseason.
Why it matters: Both clubs already have the young position-player cores in place — Washington's offense ranks among MLB's best and St. Louis fields the second-youngest lineup — but two of the league's worst bullpens are the explicit, stated obstacle. Fixing the relief corps is described as the most controllable path to relevance, and a potential CBA-driven expansion to a 14-team playoff would further lower the contention bar for these two organizations in 2027.
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