Following the All-Star break, the Cardinals have heated up. As a result of all the close games, Mike Shildt has used his best relievers and most trusted relievers more often. This has highlighted a pair of connected problems. To begin with, Gallegos and other relievers have been overused as they took the mound in five of seven games between July 17 and July 23. This is clearly not sustainable over the course of the second half. Such usage will lower these relievers’ effectiveness and risk injury if it is sustained.
The reason for this overuse is because the Cardinals do not have many reliable relievers.