Be honest, Cardinal Nation: Matthew Liberatore’s six years with the organization have felt more like 60. After being acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020, it seems as if the organization and the St. Louis fans have been watching… patiently waiting for his pot to start boiling eventually. Now, heading into the 2026 season, it looks as if the left-handed starter has finally gotten things cooking.
Liberatore came to St. Louis in exchange for outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena. The latter of whom immediately started making the move look bad for the ‘Birds. The lanky lefty struggled to maintain a role on the Cardinals roster. Meanwhile, Arozarena would win the American League Championship Series MVP Award in the strike-shortened 2020 season. Following it up by winning the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year award the following year.
Cardinals Have High Hopes for Liberatore in 2026
Meanwhile, the Cardinals and their fans could only hope that Libby would be the more successful star in the long run. In the time that passed, the 26-year-old has amassed a pedestrian 16-24 record, with an ERA of 4.63 and 272 strikeouts. While Liberatore and his team have regressed, Arozarena has continued to play winning baseball through that same time span. Now in left field for the 2025 AL West Champion Seattle Mariners. That’s been enough to make the trade seem like a bust thus far.
However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the young veteran. He’s been showing signs of life in Spring Training. So much so that St. Louis skipper Oliver Marmol has been singing his praises.
Marmol impressed with how Liberatore is leading for new-look Cardinals rotation https://t.co/4ZWTNcjfPH
— STL Sports Central (@STLSprtsCntrl) February 12, 2026
Now displaying signs of improvement, this might finally be the year that the former 2018 first-round selection can become a reliable leader of the Redbirds’ rotation. A recent MLB report noted that Liberatore has emerged as the Cardinals’ No. 1 starter entering 2026. Meaning he will have to perform up to those expectations, with no excuses or mulligans. The time for waiting is over now.
Can Libby Be a Front-Line Starter?
While the team and its followers wait to see if Liberatore has finally solved his past issues, the pitcher himself sounds confident heading into the new season. He believes the work he has put in will pay off and is ready to prove that on Opening Day.
“I’m super excited. I’m definitely ready to get the season rolling, get out there and go compete,” the pitcher said when he learned he would be the Cards’ Opening Day starter against Tampa Bay, according to a recent MLB.com article. “Baseball is a funny game. It’s funny how things work out that way [when it comes to playing the Rays]. Regardless, I’m excited to go out there and compete.”
Libby went 8-12 in 2025 in 29 games as a starter for the Redbirds. He posted a 4.21 ERA with 122 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP in 155.2 innings pitched. He will need to flip those numbers around in 2026 if he truly wants to be seen as a true, number-one starter. Most importantly, he will finally answer the questions that have surrounded his potential ever since that consequential trade way back in 2020.
The Cards and Rays will meet at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 28, to open the curtains on the 2026 season, with a starting time of 3:15 Central Time. The two teams will complete a three-game series in St. Louis before the New York Mets come to the Gateway City for a three-game set.
Main Photo Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
