The St. Louis Cardinals are hitting a rough patch, dropping their fourth straight game with a 5-1 loss to the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. This skid has seen them slip in the National League wild card race, with Miami overtaking them for one of the coveted three spots.
A glaring issue for the Cardinals this season has been their starting pitching. While Dustin May, Andre Pallante, and Michael McGreevy have been holding their own, left-hander Matthew Liberatore has been struggling. His last outing saw him give up six runs, and yet, he's still slated to take the mound again on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, despite his 5.56 ERA.
Sure, Liberatore managed to pitch into the sixth inning for the first time since May 31 during his last start, but the performance left much to be desired. If the Cardinals are serious about ending their losing streak, they might need to rethink their rotation strategy.
Down in Triple-A, the Cardinals have some intriguing options. Brycen Mautz, Quinn Mathews, and Hunter Dobbins, who has already had a couple of starts with the big league club this season, are waiting in the wings. Opting for one of these pitchers on Tuesday could be a savvy move.
The road ahead doesn't get any smoother for St. Louis.
July kicks off with two games against the Braves, followed by matchups with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs. Keeping Liberatore in the rotation under these circumstances is risky, especially if the Cardinals are keen on halting their current slide.
While the depth isn't what it used to be following the Sonny Gray trade, the Cardinals aren't expected to be active buyers at the trade deadline. Instead, they need to capitalize on the depth they have left.
Continuing to send Liberatore out every fifth day may not be the best strategy, given his recent struggles. If the Cardinals aim to reverse their fortunes, they'll need to make some adjustments.
For now, it looks like Liberatore will get another shot on Tuesday, but the Cardinals' patience may be wearing thin. It's time for some strategic tweaks to help this team regain its footing and stay competitive.
In Other News...
John Mozeliak's Surprise Return Just Raised A Bigger Question
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The part that still hangs in the air is what kind of stewardship this really is. Mozeliak spent most of his Cardinals run in the middle of competitive seasons, not deep rebuilds, so his presence alone invites a bigger question about whether the Angels are thinking short-term, long-term, or somewhere in between. He also left open the possibility of remaining with the organization beyond this year in some advisory or front-office capacity, which only adds to the sense that this temporary arrangement could end up telling us more than just who handles the trade deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Scott II Suddenly Faces A Huge Cardinals Crossroads
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Sonny Gray Is Becoming A Painful Reminder For Cardinals Fans
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Grays latest reminder came in a strong outing against the Yankees, when he piled up strikeouts and worked deep into the game without giving up a run. For the Cardinals, the frustration is not just that Gray is succeeding somewhere else, but that the return they banked on has been slowed by health issues before it could really get off the ground. It leaves St. Louis with an all-too-familiar question hanging over an offseason move that looked straightforward at the time. [Read more 🡒]