There may be a new closer in town for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Last night, the Cardinals bullpen, which has been suspect all year, followed up Jon Lester’s 6 ⅓ innings of one-run, one-hit ball with 2 ⅔ scoreless innings of their own, highlighted by Giovanny Gallegos’ 1-2-3 ninth, which sealed St. Louis’ 3-1 win over the Reds and brought them to within 2 ½ games of the second Wild Card.
Following Sunday’s soul-crushing loss in Pittsburgh, manager Mike Shildt decided it was time to remove All-Star Alex Reyes from his post as the team’s closer. Shildt said that for now, the team will go with a closer by committee approach, with decisions being based mainly on matchups.
But Gallegos’ ability to breeze through the ninth last night may help provide some clarity for Shildt.
“It doesn’t matter what situation it is in the game or how late in the game,” said Gallegos. “I try to be ready and help the team win a game.”
And that he did. He seems to have rebounded after starting the month of August with back-to-back losses to the Braves. He threw a perfect eighth on Sunday against the Pirates.
Gallegos is certainly no stranger to high-leverage situations, having served as the team’s closer for the bulk of the 2020 season, before Reyes took over in late-September. One would assume he’d be the favorite to inherit closer duties for the remainder of the season.
Gallegos was one of the main reasons St. Louis’ bullpen was so dominant in 2019 and 2020. He came to St. Louis from the Yankees in the Luke Voit deal, one that many around the league view as a steal for New York. Think again.
In 58 games and 65 ⅔ innings pitched this season, Gallegos is 5-5 with a 3.02 ERA. Last night was his third save of the season.
The Cardinals have other options to close games too. Genesis Cabrera is one of them. They’ve also enjoyed solid campaigns from Luis Garcia and T.J. McFarland, both of which can be closer options, but thus far, it’s looking like Gallegos is the front-runner to claim the role.
Perhaps the shuffling of roles will allow St. Louis’ bullpen to take shape and return to its 2019-2020 form.
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