The St. Louis Cardinals made a couple of roster moves before Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves, and the big one is getting a right-handed arm back in the bullpen.
Ryan Fernandez is off the 15-day injured list after dealing with lower back pain. To make room, the Cardinals put Ryan Stanek on the paternity list. So Fernandez is back, and he’s been throwing well when he’s actually been out there.
Fernandez, 28, has only pitched in seven games this season. But his numbers are sharp: a 1.86 ERA in those appearances. That’s a pretty big bounce-back from where he was last year.
Fernandez’s Rocky Road to Recovery
The righty made his MLB debut in 2024 and put up a respectable 3.51 ERA out of the bullpen for St. Louis. But 2025 was a different story. He finished that season with a 7.71 ERA across 32 outings. Not great. So getting him back on track was a priority heading into this season.
And honestly, it looked like he was figuring things out before the back issue sidelined him. Lower back pain is one of those things that can linger, so the Cardinals probably wanted to be careful with him. But now he’s back and the bullpen gets a boost.
It’s still unclear exactly what role Fernandez will settle into. The Cardinals have a decent bullpen but nothing special. They could use some stability. Fernandez might end up in a mid-inning role or maybe even some higher-leverage spots if he keeps pitching like he did before the IL stint.
Where the Cardinals Stand Right Now
St. Louis is 43-38, sitting third in the NL Central. They’re 7.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead. That gap is real but not insurmountable. What matters more is that they currently hold the last National League Wild Card spot. That’s the ticket they’re fighting for.
But the Cardinals need more than just Fernandez back. Their pitching depth overall is thin. It’s no secret they could use another arm or two before the trade deadline. Whether that’s a starter or another reliever remains to be seen. But the front office knows they can’t coast into October with this staff as is.
Tuesday night’s series opener against Atlanta is a big one. First pitch is at 7:15 PM Eastern in Atlanta. The Braves are always tough, and the Cardinals need to keep pace in the Wild Card race. Getting Fernandez back helps, but it’s one piece of a bigger puzzle.
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