“I don’t think you adjust (expectations from St. Louis baseball); I think that’s an error if you adjust for that (inexperience).” Unlike previous years, the Cardinals are no longer looking to win a night’s game or stay in the playoff chase but look at youth development. So, back in early February, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol quite optimistically put how a youth-laden roster will not mean the team lowers its standards. In fact, he even promised, “That is the exciting part — they understand their responsibilities, where they are playing and that it’s in St. Louis, which is meaningful, and the style of baseball that’s expected.” But just two months since, St. Louis seems to be losing hope.

So before going against Atlanta on Wednesday, Marmol sat alone in the visiting manager’s office at Truist Park. After missing their chances repeatedly, this was their opportunity to turn the tides in their favor. But once again, Ryan Fernandez found himself in the late innings in a tie-game while the Cardinals had been seeking spots of lower leverage for the reliever. However, that was a rarity in the seven-game road trip, not just making Ryan lose his chances to rise again as St. Louis’ setup man but also the game. And when the same thing keeps going wrong, patience becomes both a strategy and a burden.

That’s exactly what’s happening to Marmol now. After a losing streak of four games, the Cardinals were yet again in the position to win. Almost. They dropped yet another game very much in their hands. But does that give Marmol any reason to doubt? Not likely. Their 1-6 road trip was littered with near-misses and late-inning collapses. And yet, despite the damage, the plan hasn’t changed. They’re sticking with the young arms. Even if it hurts.

“We treat relievers differently than position players because whenever it doesn’t go their way, the game flips. It hurts. That is the hardest area to be patient in, for me.”

Let’s call it what it is — the Cardinals are riding a bullpen rollercoaster with no seatbelts. Fernandez, once a promising weapon, now headlines back-to-back disasters. His 1-1 slider to Eli White on Wednesday was supposed to dive below the zone. Instead, it floated, and White crushed it for his first homer of the year. Tie game, gone. So was the Cardinals’ shot at salvaging a road trip. So was their grip on any early-season optimism as they return home having lost 11th road game of the month. And while fans might be screaming for change, Marmol made one thing brutally clear:

“This is who we’ve got, and we’ve got to get them back on track. There’s nothing coming from down below where it’s going to change what is going on up here. We have to get these guys better, and the only way is for them to pitch. We’re going to keep going with them. We have to continue to get on the other side of this.”

Translation? Buckle up — the relievers are going to keep pitching, even if the game keeps flipping on their watch because St. Louis is in its youth development era. Now, the Cardinals staff would continue to discuss how to improve its young players, and when and how to give them the opportunities to learn. At the end of the day, the outings for relievers are in small sample sizes and in bursts. If a situation arises where it goes sideways for them, it usually turns into a loss. They don’t have another chance like a player might have. They don’t have another opportunity. And Oliver agrees, “That’s why it’s super-tough to make quick judgments. Especially young arms.”

The pain isn’t just in the numbers, though those are ugly. A 2-11 road record is their worst 13-game road start since 1960. Four bullpen losses in six games. An ERA north of 11 in late innings. But this isn’t just about data. It’s about the isolation of a young arm standing on a mound, one mistake from being the reason why the game was lost.

Contrast that with Jordan Walker, who went 1-for-23 on the road trip and struck out nine times. He gets another at-bat, another game. Fernandez? He gets a headline. A loss. A moment that changes the mood of an entire team.

And that’s the thing about being a reliever, as Miles Mikolas put it: “You’re the hero or the opposite of the hero.”

Lately, the Cardinals know too well what the opposite feels like.

Pressure builds: Can the Cardinals’ young talent withstand the weight?

There’s no denying it — the pressure is mounting on the Cardinals’ young talent. The games are tight, the stakes are high, and each blown opportunity is magnified under the unforgiving lights of a major league season. Players like Ryan Fernandez see every pitch as an opportunity to make a game-changing move. The challenging part? This pressure isn’t an obstacle, it’s a reality for young athletes in professional baseball leagues who are expected to deliver standout performances while under scrutiny. It’s not a matter of if they will slip up on the field, but a question of when they will face challenges and make mistakes.

Marmol affirmed back in February, “We want to build something that’s lasting and that comes with runway and opportunity. We’re taking a step back and making sure we’re building something that’s going to last and provide winning baseball for a long time…

“If you’re one of those young guys, you get fired up about making your mark. So, they’re excited about getting to do exactly that.”

For these young players, it’s sink or swim. And while it may seem harsh, it’s also an opportunity to shape their futures. The tough losses and failed outings? They’re not just setbacks, they’re lessons. The pressure is part of the process, and for the Cardinals, it’s a test of whether their young core can endure. It’s one thing to say you’ve got the talent; it’s another to prove you can weather the storm when it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.

Only time will tell if these rising stars will rise to the challenge or if the pressure will break them.