While the offense was putrid on Sunday, it still is not the reason the Cardinals sit a half game behind the Pirates in second place in the NL Central. The bullpen is the difference and the reason the Cardinals are not miles ahead of the pack in the division race.
It is early in the season and the law of averages will likely revert to the mean, but the Cardinals bullpen on its own has been atrocious. But when you compare it to the bullpen of the first-place Pirates, you start to understand just how big of a problem the bullpen has become.
Pittsburgh leads the division right now despite being 21st in runs scored, 26th in batting average and 26th in slugging percentage. The Cardinals on the other hand, are sixth in runs scored, 13th in batting average and 23rd in slugging percentage. The Cardinals have been vastly superior to the Pirates offensively so far on the year.
The starting rotations of both staffs have been outstanding, with the lone exception being Pirates' starter Jonathan Sanchez. Otherwise, the Pirates and Cardinals' pitching staffs have been about even.
The difference, and the reason the Pirates are in first, is the bullpen. As bad as the Cardinals bullpen has been, the Pirates bullpen has been every bit as good.
The Pirates eighth and ninth innings are locked down by Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli. Melancon has appeared in 14 games and has allowed just one earned run and has a 0.64 ERA while locking down the eighth. Grilli has allowed just one run in 12 appearances and has converted all 10 of his save opportunities while allowing only five hits in 11 innings of work.
The Pirates bullpen has been absolutely dominating. The Cardinals bullpen has been absolutely terrifying.
Again, the law of averages suggests the Cardinals bullpen should get better over time and that the Pirates bullpen won't continue to torch and shutdown everyone they see, but the combination of the Cardinals' bullpen woes and the Pirates' bullpen dominance is the only reason the Pirates are in the race at all.
If the Cardinals' bullpen was able to execute and secure victories in only half of the opportunities it has been given, the Cardinals would not be sitting in second place right now. The Pirates bullpen has been superb and if Melancon and Grilli continue to pitch the way they have, the Pirates will be in contention all season long.
Even though the Cardinals are better offensively than Pittsburgh, the importance of a great bullpen should not be discounted. The Pirates are proving it and the Cardinals need to do something differently to find answers and get outs once a starter leaves the game.
