Cardinals Spring Training: Liberatore Shines in Final Tune-Up
JUPITER, Fla. - As the Cardinals gear up for opening day, Matthew Liberatore is looking every bit the ace they need. In his last spring training appearance against the Mets, the lefty dazzled with five scoreless innings, setting the stage for his debut as the opening day starter against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Liberatore's performance was nothing short of impressive. After walking the first batter, he settled in, retiring 13 straight before allowing a two-out single in the fifth.
With five strikeouts under his belt, Liberatore capped off the spring with a stellar 1.80 ERA, fanning 24 batters over 18 1/3 innings while issuing just two walks. This marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first Cardinals lefty to start on opening day since Donovan Osborne in 1999.
Game Highlights
High Point: Ivan Herrera launched his first home run of the spring, a two-run blast that energized the team.
Low Point: Things got tense when the Mets rallied for three runs in the eighth, nearly erasing a 4-0 Cardinals lead. However, the team held firm for the win.
At the Plate
Ramon Urias opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning, setting the tone for the Cardinals. Herrera's homer was the highlight of a three-run fifth inning, which also featured a sacrifice fly from JJ Wetherholt.
Wetherholt, batting leadoff, contributed a single in his three at-bats. Jordan Walker chipped in with a single as well, though the Cardinals had just one opportunity with runners in scoring position.
On the Mound
Following Liberatore, Justin Bruihl took the mound and delivered a scoreless inning, deftly navigating around a hit and a walk. However, Gerson Moreno struggled, walking three batters in two-thirds of an inning, all of whom scored in the eighth. Prospect Luis Gastelum stepped up to earn the save, striking out one and walking another in a scoreless ninth.
Roster Moves Ahead
With opening day on the horizon, the Cardinals need to trim their roster from 35 to 26 players. This includes potential spots for non-roster invitees JJ Wetherholt and Nelson Velazquez, which would necessitate two moves to clear space on the 40-man roster.
As the season approaches, the Cardinals are fine-tuning their lineup and rotation, with Liberatore's standout performance providing a promising glimpse of what's to come.