The St. Louis Cardinals view their depth at starting pitcher as a strength. It also emphasizes how Spring Training develops before they commit to the five-man rotation set on Opening Day. The next few weeks will be monumental with as many as nine pitchers who could be starters when the season starts.
A Mix of Veterans and Young Players
The Cardinals starting pitching options can be split into two camps: players over 30 and under. Among the players over 30 are some pitchers sure to be in the starting rotation if they get through Spring Training healthy. Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, and Miles Mikolas are virtual locks in the Opening Day rotation. Steven Matz is the biggest question mark among the veterans. Health issues and inconsistent performance make him the most likely of the group to miss out on the rotation.
Of the younger players, Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy have the most experience and success as MLB starters. Pallante got his chance in 2024 when Matz was injured for most of the season. He performed well in 20 starts last season, putting up a 3.56 ERA and an 8-7 record. McGreevy had a much more limited run, filling in once mid-season and then getting a few starts at the end of the year. The 24-year-old posted a 1.96 ERA and three wins in three starts last season.
Then, other options remain dark horse candidates. The Cardinals two top pitching prospects Quinn Mathews and Tink Hence appear on the cusp of being Big League ready. Former highly touted prospect Matthew Liberatore has seen some success and had plenty of struggles in a mix of MLB starting and relief efforts. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said he will be stretched out as a starter in the Spring, and the team will decide where he slates later.
Cardinals Like Their Starting Pitching Depth
Between Gray, Fedde, Mikolas, Matz, Pallante, and McGreevy, the Cardinals have six options they know they would be comfortable with in the rotation. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak doesn’t want to move one of them before Opening Day.
“As we all know if you go in with five you are going to be short one,” Mozeliak told reporters in January at the Cardinals ‘Winter Warmup’ media event. “I think the depth of what we have in our rotation is something we feel good about. We would like to keep that if possible.”
With McGreevy’s success in 2024, the Cardinals like him in the starting lineup. However, his pathway to the rotation may be the first option with an injury. Especially with three pitchers 33 years old or above in Gray, Mikolas, and Matz.
“As we get into camp, McGreevy is going to be competing for a spot; you could argue some of those spots are already taken by veteran players,” Mozeliak said. “Historically some of those players haven’t been able to go pole to pole.”
The Dark Horse Candidates
The surplus of veterans goes against the Cardinals stated goal of developing young talent in 2025. However, it still plays with the teams hope to win. The Organization has maintained they still plan to compete for a spot in the Postseason. One way or another, Liberatore will likely be on the Opening Day roster. However, it could be as a middle reliever, which has been his most common role so far in his career.
“I love seeing him in that role where he can pitch high leverage in a relief role and give you multiple innings if needed. He also gives you versatility, as he’s continuing to evolve as a mature player,” Marmol told reporters earlier this week in Florida. “We give him an opportunity to continue to get stretched out in the Spring. Then make a decision as you have more clarity as to what the roster is looking like closer to breaking camp.”
The two most exciting options are probably the Cardinals number two and three prospects Mathews and Hence. Both have the stuff to become aces in the future but have limited time in the Cardinals minors. Mathews is entering just his second year in the organization. Hence has yet to pitch 100 innings since being drafted in 2020 due to injuries. Both will get the chance to dazzle the organization in Spring Training. The option remains open for them to crack the starting rotation. However, if they don’t, expect them to start the season in Triple-A to be ready to come up for a start if needed.
Main Photo Credits: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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