Michael Wacha's Trip to Bullpen Solved Absolutely Nothing

Less than a week ago, the St. Louis Cardinals put right-handed starter Michael Wacha into the bullpen, as he's had a dreadful start to the 2019 season and could certainly pin his hopes on a role change, at this point.

Well, that hasn't worked in the slightest.

After rookie flame-thrower Genesis Cabrera didn't fare well in his MLB debut on Wednesday, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks in 3.2 innings, Wacha followed him out of the bullpen, allowing a whopping six runs on five hits and three walks in one inning of work.

The Cardinals don't want to give up on Wacha and make him a long relieve who enters games that are out of reach one way or another, but the hope that he'll pitch well out of the pen prior to a re-insertion into the rotation isn't off to a good start, either

In 10 appearances (nine starts) this season, Wacha owns a 6.61 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, and 6.0 BB/9, while allowing 12 home runs in just 47.2 innings of work.

Wacha looked like a future frontline starter when he came up in 2013, but he's fallen from grace hard and is having his worst season ever at the wrong time, as he's a free agent following this season. Something's gotta give, but it's unlikely to manifest itself in scattered and feckless relief performances.