In the first season where the St. Louis Cardinals fully intended to rebuild, they shipped off older veterans and players deeper into their big-league careers. It left plenty of homegrown players on the roster. 14 of the 25 players on St. Louis’ Opening Day roster were drafted or originally signed by the organization, with 17 of them making their major league debut with St. Louis.
The Cardinals’ rotation is a glowing example of that, boasting three homegrown starters and four who debuted as members of St. Louis. The trio of righties that was drafted by the franchise – Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, and Kyle Leahy – have each taken strong steps forward in 2026 as starting pitchers. And in a year where a team is looking for long-term answers at every position, the Cardinals couldn’t have asked for much more from these three.
McGreevy, Pallante, and Leahy Shine in Cardinals’ Rotation
Michael McGreevy
McGreevy has been an instant contributor for the Cards since debuting in 2024. After being put on the shuttle bus between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis for the last two seasons, he was given a clear opportunity to claim a rotation spot this year. And he has produced.
Despite his 4-8 record, McGreevy is sporting a 3.07 ERA through 20 starts, which ranks 10th in the National League. Drafted 18th overall in the first round of the 2021 Draft, McGreevy has been a reliable arm for St. Louis, rocking a career 3.52 ERA. His success is predicated on his pristine command, as he works on the edges of the zone, limits walks, and keeps the ball on the ground with his kitchen-sink arsenal.
13 of McGreevy’s outings have been quality starts, and he has given St. Louis at least six innings in 15 of his starts. Over his last five starts, he has pitched to the tune of a 2.32 ERA. The 26-year-old gives the Cardinals a chance to win each time he toes the rubber, and figures to be a solid arm in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
Andre Pallante
After a much-maligned 2025 where he posted a 5.31 ERA, Pallante has bounced back on the mound in 2026. Through 20 starts, he has posted a 3.77 ERA and rocks an 11-6 record, tying for the second-most pitcher wins in all of baseball. The key for Pallante has been limiting the non-competitive pitches, as his abnormal arm angle and unique pitch profiles, specifically on his fastballs, create tough plate appearances for opposing batters.
Andre Pallante was DEALING tonight!
7 IP | 2 H | 0 ER | 1 BB | 8 K
It’s the most strikeouts he’s had in a start since April 24th! pic.twitter.com/7zIr9nf8wK
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) July 26, 2026
In 2026, Pallante has reverted to what makes him a productive pitcher, lowering his walk rate and keeping the ball off of hitters’ barrels. He has also maintained his elite groundball rate, benefitting from a strong infield defense, especially up the middle. Many were ready to write off Pallante after his struggles last season, but he has proved to be a key piece for the Cardinals’ rotation.
Kyle Leahy
In his first season starting at the big-league level, Leahy has experienced both the ups and downs. Earlier in the year, he battled immensely with his command and struggled to go five innings. It was somewhat to be expected, after 110 of his first 111 MLB appearances came as a reliever. Leahy made the transition to the Cardinals’ rotation last offseason after St. Louis offloaded starters Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, and Miles Mikolas.
A rocky start it was, indeed, as Leahy logged a 5.52 ERA in his first six starts. But the 29-year-old has seemingly turned a corner, both going deeper into games and limiting damage. Over his last 31 1/3 innings, which span across his last six starts, Leahy has a 1.15 ERA. In his start on Sunday against the Reds, Leahy scattered a couple of solo shots over six strong frames and punched out nine men. His ERA on the season has dropped to 3.55, and the former 17th-rounder in 2018 is reaping dividends for a franchise willing to let him be a starter.
Shocking stat Brad Thompson just announced.
Kyle Leahy is the first Cardinals pitcher to allow 2 or fewer runs over the course of 6 straight starts since Chris Carpenter in 2005, his Cy Young year pic.twitter.com/lLIPqQrIqm
— Gateway Grinders (@gatewaygrinders) July 26, 2026
Productive, Controllable Starters a Rarity for Cardinals’ Rotation
Part of the Cardinals’ downfall in the last half-decade has been the inability to develop quality homegrown starters. As evidenced by how much they’re traded for or how much they’re handed in lucrative starters, competent starting pitching is the most coveted thing in baseball.
There have been examples of young St. Louis starters being unable to sustain quality production, whether it’s the likes of Dakota Hudson or Matthew Liberatore, the latter having regressed this season after a promising 2025. McGreevy, Pallante, and Leahy being able to build on their 2026 campaigns will be significant. But their fruitful seasons in the Cardinals’ rotation as homegrown starters bode well for the organization’s development track, with more talented arms waiting in the wings.
Main Photo Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
