Reds Bullpen

Since then, a combination of injuries and inconsistency has fueled a dramatic collapse. Entering Sunday, Cincinnati's bullpen carries a 5.12 ERA, the highest mark in the majors.

Those struggles were exposed once again on Saturday as Lars Nootbaar hit a go-ahead two-run home run off Sam Moll to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 6-5 victory over the Reds.

The loss spoiled reliever Tejay Antone's Houdini act in the bottom of the sixth inning. He turned a bases-loaded, no-out situation into a double play and a groundout to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard.

Following the loss, manager Terry Francona acknowledged the bullpen's recent struggles.

“Believe me, we’ve had our share of hiccups,” manager Terry Francona said. “I thought [Tejay] Antone came in and wiggled out of a really tough one. Sammy was pretty good, and he just hung a breaking ball right in his swing path.”

Saturday's defeat was the latest in a string of bullpen breakdowns for Cincinnati.

On Friday, Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey combined to allow six runs on four hits and four walks in the sixth inning of the Reds' 10-3 loss.

Before that, Tony Santillan couldn't keep the game tied in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. He surrendered three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, in Cincinnati's 5-2 defeat.

The Reds spent the offseason fortifying their bullpen after reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

They re-signed closer Emilio Pagán to a two-year, $20 million contract. Additionally, Cincinnati brought in veteran relievers Brock Burke, Caleb Ferguson, and Pierce Johnson to provide further depth and support.

However, the group has taken major hits with multiple arms on the injured list. Pagán has been sidelined since May 5 with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Johnson (right elbow inflammation) and Graham Ashcraft (UCL sprain in his right forearm) are also on the injured list.

Before going down with injuries, Johnson and Ashcraft were emerging as two of Cincinnati's most reliable bullpen options. They own 3.27 and 3.33 ERAs, respectively.

Those absences have tested the Reds' bullpen depth, and the results have been largely ineffective. The constant turnover and the 17 different relievers Cincinnati has used so far in 2026 only further highlight the issue.

More troublingly, those struggles have contributed to the Reds finding themselves in unfamiliar territory: below .500. Cincinnati (31-32) enters Sunday under the mark for the first time since Opening Day and sits in last place in the NL Central.

The Reds will look to salvage the finale of their series against the Cardinals on Sunday at 2:15 pm ET.