Cardinals need to make a drastic decision with Jordan Hicks

It’s been a tough start to the season for Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks. That continued on Saturday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

St. Louis lost a three-game set to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. The Cards are in last place in the National League Central. While it’s still early, the Cards were favored to win the entire division prior to the season.

The Cards bullpen has been a problem to start the year. Namely, Jordan Hicks has not pitched like…well, Jordan Hicks. In six appearances so far this year, Hicks has a 10.13 ERA. That’s not good enough.

Hicks blew up in the tenth, and lasted just .1 innings. The Bucs took advantage, scoring three runs thanks in part to a two-run blast from Andrew McCutchen.

The Cards were unable to answer in the bottom of the tenth, and Pittsburgh won the series 2-1.

Cardinals: Jordan Hicks struggles continue

Oli Marmol was tossed in the third inning, as he argued balls and strikes with the home plate umpire. Steven Matz was the victim of some questionable decisions, but Marmol getting thrown out of the game eventually put the wrong person in charge, who left Hicks in the final inning. It’s all a domino effect.

Even the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has started to turn on Hicks, who struggled to get things going.

"“Out of the bullpen and back into question, Jordan Hicks allowed a leadoff homer to Andrew McCutchen and a triple in the 10th inning as the Pirates seized on the struggling right-hander for three runs. Two innings after rallying to invite extra innings, Pittsburgh completed their comeback for a 6-3 victory Saturday at Busch Stadium.”"

Andre Pallante was unavailable, which made Hicks the option for the tenth inning. It wasn’t a perfect system, obviously, and likely wouldn’t repeat itself in a postseason matchup.

Still, Hicks needs some time off and perhaps a rehab assignment. He’s been brutal since spring training.