Fansided

Biggest question for every 2017 World Series contender

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Mar 29, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber (left) is congratulated by outfielder Jason Heyward after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber (left) is congratulated by outfielder Jason Heyward after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 7, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes (61) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes (61) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

St. Louis Cardinals

 How big of a hole does the Alex Reyes injury create?

With an 86-76 record last season, the St. Louis Cardinals fell one game short in the National League Wild Card race. While the Cards benefited from a powerful lineup that led the NL with 225 home runs and ranked third with 779 runs scored, the pitching staff was uncharacteristically mediocre.

The staff as a whole posted a 4.08 ERA in 2016, which ranked seventh in the league. The unit also finished seventh in runs allowed (712) and ninth in batting average allowed (.258). Carlos Martinez was great – he posted a 3.04 ERA with 174 strikeouts in 195.1 innings across 31 starts – but no other pitcher that started eight games or more recorded an ERA lower than Adam Wainwright’s 4.62.

Wainwright had a 3.93 FIP, so he was better than his ERA would indicate, but the longtime staff ace is 35 years old and a drop in performance wasn’t a shock. St. Louis also traded Jaime Garcia to Atlanta, which opened a rotation spot for Alex Reyes. Unfortunately, Reyes won’t be healthy enough to take that spot in 2017.

MLB.com ranks Reyes as the top prospect in the Cardinals organization, and he’s listed No. 14 on the Top 100 list. After rocketing through the minors, Reyes debuted with the Redbirds as a 21-year old and shined. In 12 appearances last season, including five starts, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-hander posted a 1.57 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings. Reyes walked 23, but allowed just 33 hits and one home run.

However, elbow discomfort in early February led to Tommy John surgery last week and Reyes will be out for 12 to 18 months. And, with the departure of Garcia, and Lance Lynn unlikely to be fully recovered from his own Tommy John surgery by Opening Day, there’s a hole to be filled.

The Cardinals have benefited from great depth during their impressive winning stretch, and the club won’t turn to an empty cupboard in 2017. Getting Lynn back early in the season is a bonus, and Michael Wacha was outstanding from 2013-15 before slumping through last season with a 5.09 ERA and .289 batting average allowed over 138 innings.

Among other intriguing options, St. Louis has committed to stretching out former closer Trevor Rosenthal this spring. Though he rose through the organization as a highly touted starting prospect, Rosenthal has never started a game in the big leagues: his last start occurred in Triple-A in 2012. The team also has high hopes for Luke Weaver despite his 5.70 ERA in nine games (eight starts) in 2016.

Reyes is a special talent and he will be missed, but the Cardinals have quality options to fill the hole and compete for a Wild Card spot again.

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