The Cardinals are back home after getting swept by the Giants, and now they face a much steeper challenge: a weekend series against the American League Central-leading White Sox.
St. Louis sits at 72-75, and while Chicago looks postseason-bound, the Cardinals have already shown they can spoil somebody’s plans. They did it against the Dodgers last week, and they’ll try to do it again here.
The rotation plan for the series starts with Matthew Liberatore on Friday night. His last outing was a strange one - he carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, then gave up five runs in the bottom half and was pulled after 4 1/3 innings.
The left-hander is 5-14 with a 5.57 ERA, and the club’s patience as a starter appears to be wearing thin. He’ll stay in the rotation the rest of the season, but the results haven’t backed up the experiment.
Kyle Leahy, meanwhile, has been the Cardinals’ most effective starter this year, though he’s working under a pitch limit that could keep him to three or four innings. Even so, he can give St. Louis a useful bridge before turning the game over to Cooper Hjerpe, who was brought back to piggyback Leahy and fired four perfect innings in relief against the Rockies over the weekend.
That setup could be a real asset if Leahy can handle the opening stretch and hand things off cleanly. It would let Hjerpe absorb the middle innings and help protect the bullpen.
Michael McGreevy rounds out the group, and he comes in after a solid showing against the Giants on Labor Day. He allowed three runs and worked into the seventh inning, keeping the Cardinals in it long enough for them to rally and force extra innings.
McGreevy has been one of St. Louis’ steadier arms this season, giving the team innings and a dependable presence on the mound. He hasn’t quite matched his first-half sharpness, but he’s still done his job as the Cardinals try to finish the season on a strong note.
If he can keep things close, St. Louis should have a real shot.
In Other News...
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Real Third Base Answer To Watch
The Cardinals infield looks much more stable heading toward 2026 than it has in recent seasons, with JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson already giving the group a clearer shape. Third base is still the spot that hangs in the balance, though, and Nolan Gormans struggles have kept that door open for someone else to make a case.
Jess Bez is starting to look like the name worth watching. Acquired from the Mets, the 21-year-old has turned heads in Double-A with big power production, and the organization has to like that kind of upside at a position that has not yet found its answer. Bez is still young enough that there is plenty of development ahead, but he is also doing enough now to make a future major league roster spot feel very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Bullpen Reset Could Start With One Veteran Arm
The Cardinals bullpen is headed for scrutiny this winter, and Ryne Stanek looks like one of the first names to watch. The veteran right-hander has worked in 64 games this season, and while he has given St. Louis a proven late-inning arm, the group around him has struggled enough that the relief corps ranks 24th in ERA. With the organization expected to make changes to shore up that unit for next season, every bullpen piece is suddenly part of a larger conversation.
Staneks situation may be especially notable because of the contract wrinkle attached to him. ESPNs Jeff Passan reported that the club option for the 2027 season is unlikely to be picked up, a detail that adds another layer to what already figures to be a busy offseason for the Cardinals. Even with a solid strikeout-to-walk profile, his future is now tied to a bullpen reset that could leave St. Louis weighing veteran reliability against the need for a different look. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Risky Rotation Decision Fans Will Debate
The Cardinals focus has already shifted toward the next phase, even with the season still moving along at a disappointing pace. They are three games below .500 and look unlikely to make the playoffs, but the organization still has reasons to keep watching closely. With several promising young players and a strong farm system, St. Louis enters the winter needing more stability, especially in the bullpen and at the back of the rotation where a veteran starter would help steady things.
MLB.com recently added an intriguing name to the mix, reporting that the Braves may be willing to trade Spencer Strider. The right-hander has been sidelined by injury this season, but his track record before that made him one of the more dominant young arms in the game, which is exactly why a team like the Cardinals would have to weigh the upside against the risk. It is the kind of move that would fit the front offices broader needs, while also forcing a tough debate about how much uncertainty St. Louis is willing to absorb in pursuit of a higher ceiling. [Read more 🡒]