The 2026 season was supposed to be about getting answers to questions for the St. Louis Cardinals. Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt have provided great answers. Kyle Leahy has provided a good answer. Unfortunately, Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II did not provide good answers, leading to their demotions to the minor leagues. Thankfully, their replacements have provided good answers.
Matthew Liberatore has also not provided a good answer for the Cardinals. However, he is continuing to get starts. If the Cardinals pivoted from Gorman and Scott II, why are they not with their pitcher?
The Cardinals Need to Pivot From Liberatore
The Peoria native answered the season hoping to build off a successful 2025, his first season as a full-time starter. The Cardinals even named him their Opening Day starter.
Season So Far
After a rough April, Liberatore bounced back with a strong May. However, June and July have not provided good results. His start on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels saw him give up five runs in the first inning. The game was basically over before it even had a chance to start.
Through 20 starts, Liberatore has a 5-7 record with a 5.18 ERA. Furthermore, he does not go deep into games, averaging under five innings a start. He is not an answer in the Cardinals’ rotation.
The Cardinals Have Set a Precedent With Struggling Regulars
Gorman batted just .194 in 201 at-bats. With prospect Blaze Jordan playing very well in the minor leagues, the organization decided to option Gorman and call up Jordan. The move has paid off so far, with the young third/first baseman hitting .253 in 91 at-bats.
Scott II also only batted .194 in 155 at-bats. When Lars Nootbaar came off the injured list, the Cardinals optioned Scott II and shifted Nathan Church to center field. That move has paid off as well. Nootbaar has provided some stability in the lineup while Church has played a good center field.
Gorman and Scott II were players the Cardinals wanted to get extra looks at this season. When they did not produce, the organization pivoted. Why not do the same with Liberatore?
Cardinals Have Replacement Options
If the Cardinals did not have any interior options, it would be understandable if they decided to ride things out with Liberatore. It would not be smart to rush a pitching prospect to the Major Leagues.
However, that is not the case for the team. They have two options who could take Liberatore’s spot. The first is Hunter Dobbins. He has pitched in six games, starting four of them. In those four starts, Dobbins has been reliable for the Cardinals. He has pitched at least five innings in three starts, including six innings of shutout baseball in Wednesday’s win over the Angels. Furthermore, he has not given up more than three runs in a start.
Their second option is a more exciting one: prospect Quinn Mathews. The 2023 fourth-round pick has a 3.39 ERA in 85 innings with the Memphis Redbirds this season. He appears ready to make the jump to the Major Leagues. Many had expected Mathews to get called up at some point this season, perhaps after the trade deadline if a starter is moved. However, he is pitching well now, and Liberatore is not. Now is as good a time as any.
Quinn Mathews final line (91 pitches, 55 strikes):
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K
Another outstanding start from Quinn; it’s the deepest he’s gone in a start this season
This is the best he’s looked at the Triple-A level pic.twitter.com/6137PdFB72
— Adam Akbani (@AdamAkbani) July 10, 2026
Why Won’t the Cardinals Pivot?
If the Cardinals were willing to pivot from Gorman and Scott II, surely they would not be opposed to pivoting from Liberatore? Yet, they seem hesitant to do so. He continues to get starts, but continues to fail to produce in most of them.
Current Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom drafted Liberatore with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. Does Bloom believe there is still something in the 26-year-old lefty as a starter? Does he feel there is no true alternative to replace him? Only he can answer that.
If the Cardinals do remove Liberatore from the rotation, they can put him in the bullpen where he has had success in the past. In 2024, Liberatore posted a 4.40 ERA in 54 appearances out of the bullpen. With the Cardinals’ bullpen struggling, he could provide needed effectiveness in that role. His value may not be as a starter.
The Last Word
Liberatore’s next scheduled start is Monday against the Chicago Cubs. As of now, the Cardinals seem prepared to stick to that plan. However, the time is now to pivot. If they pivoted with Gorman and Scott II, then they should be willing to pivot with Liberatore.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez- Imagn Images
