St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has announced that Matthew Liberatore will be the team’s fifth starter to begin the season. Michael McGreevy, another candidate for the role, will start the season in Triple-A, while veteran Steven Matz will begin the year in a long relief role. The Cardinals eventually plan to switch to a six-man rotation, with Matz joining as a starter around mid-April when the schedule becomes more demanding.
Liberatore has had an impressive Spring Training, posting a 1.62 ERA over 16.2 innings with nine strikeouts and four walks, without allowing any home runs. At 25 years old, he will join Andre Pallante as the second left-handed starter in the rotation. While Liberatore has mostly served as a reliever in his MLB career, his recent performance suggests he could be given another chance in the rotation.
Matz, who struggled with injuries last season, will start the season as a middle reliever. He made seven starts in 2024 but spent most of the year coming out of the bullpen with a 5.08 ERA. Marmol plans to integrate him into the rotation around April 16, once the team’s schedule becomes more intense.
McGreevy, the Cardinals’ No. 11 prospect, had a standout Spring Training, recording a 1.08 ERA and a WHIP of .600 in 16.2 innings. Despite his strong performance, he will begin the season in Triple-A to provide depth in case of injuries. The Cardinals had expressed a need for additional rotation depth following injury concerns in 2024. If the rotation faces setbacks, McGreevy is likely to be the first player called up.
In summary, the Cardinals are set to begin the season with a rotation that includes Liberatore, who will have a chance to prove himself as a starter, while McGreevy provides depth in Triple-A and Matz prepares to join the rotation later in the month.
