The St. Louis Cardinals may still have a chance to remain involved in the National League Wild Card race, but the organization is also looking beyond the current season. With the final weeks of the regular season approaching, the Cardinals are using this period to evaluate which players could become important pieces of the team’s future.
The organization has already identified several young players who appear positioned to play major roles moving forward, including JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker. Others, such as Iván Herrera, Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson, could also become part of the club’s next competitive core. However, several players still have plenty to prove.
With roughly six weeks remaining, these five Cardinals have an important opportunity to demonstrate that they deserve to remain part of the organization’s long-term plans.
Hunter Dobbins
Right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins has spent much of the 2026 campaign moving between Triple-A Memphis and the Major League club. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox organization in the offseason trade involving Willson Contreras, Dobbins finally received an opportunity for a more consistent role after the Cardinals dealt Dustin May to Milwaukee at the Trade Deadline.
He immediately made a strong impression. In his first start as a regular member of the rotation, Dobbins took the mound at Yankee Stadium and delivered an impressive performance, working 6 1/3 innings while allowing only two runs.
Through 45 Major League innings this season, Dobbins owns a 3.40 ERA across nine appearances, including six starts. His career ERA over 106 innings currently sits at 3.82.
The upcoming weeks could determine whether Dobbins enters 2027 as a legitimate rotation candidate. Competition will be intense, however. Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy are among the pitchers expected to be in the mix, while Matthew Liberatore could also remain in the organization’s plans.
The Cardinals also have several highly regarded pitching prospects advancing through the system. Quinn Mathews recently made his Major League debut, while Liam Doyle, Tanner Franklin and Jurrangelo Cijntje could eventually challenge for opportunities.
For Dobbins, the objective is simple: continue pitching effectively and make it difficult for St. Louis to leave him out of next year’s rotation.
Matthew Liberatore
Matthew Liberatore has experienced a frustrating 2026 campaign. Despite remaining in the Cardinals’ rotation, the left-hander has struggled to produce the consistency expected of him.
Liberatore’s difficulties continued during his August 8 outing against Colorado, when he surrendered five earned runs and nine hits at Busch Stadium. The performance came shortly after one of his strongest starts of the season, when he shut down Toronto on Aug. 2.
Through 23 starts, Liberatore has posted a 5.15 ERA. Perhaps even more concerning is his performance against left-handed hitters, who have produced a .926 OPS against him.
The Cardinals continue to give him opportunities because they have significant investment in his development. Liberatore was selected as the club’s Opening Day starter this year, demonstrating how much confidence the organization once had in his ability to establish himself.
However, his future could become increasingly uncertain if his struggles continue. Quinn Mathews is already waiting in the wings, and some supporters have argued that Liberatore would be better suited for a bullpen role.
The next several weeks could therefore represent a critical final opportunity for Liberatore to regain his form and convince the Cardinals that he belongs in the 2027 rotation.
Jimmy Crooks
Catcher Jimmy Crooks entered the 2026 season with considerable excitement surrounding him. He was promoted to St. Louis on May 29 after putting together an outstanding stretch at Triple-A Memphis, where he hit 13 home runs and produced a .979 OPS.
Unfortunately, his transition to the Major Leagues has been difficult. Crooks struggled badly in June, hitting .167 with one home run, and followed that with a .176 average and two homers in July.
Although the surface numbers have been disappointing, some underlying indicators suggest that Crooks could eventually produce better results. He has also shown signs of improvement during the early portion of August.
The timing is particularly important because the Cardinals have other highly regarded catching prospects advancing through their system.
Rainel Rodriguez, ranked among the organization’s top prospects, continues to make an impression at Double-A Springfield. More immediately, Leo Bernal has emerged as a significant threat to Crooks’ position on the organizational depth chart. Bernal has posted an .845 OPS at Memphis and is highly regarded for his defensive abilities.
Crooks therefore has limited time to establish himself. If he can improve his offensive production while continuing to develop behind the plate, he could strengthen his case to remain in St. Louis. If not, Bernal could eventually force his way into the picture.
Nolan Gorman
Nolan Gorman’s future with the Cardinals has become increasingly uncertain. Once viewed as one of the organization’s premier power prospects, Gorman has struggled to maintain the production that made him so highly regarded.
His best season came in 2023, when he hit 27 home runs. Since then, his numbers have declined, and his 2026 campaign became especially difficult. Before being optioned to Triple-A on June 12, Gorman was hitting only .194 with a .318 slugging percentage.
The Cardinals responded by sending him to Jupiter, Florida, where the organization attempted to make significant adjustments to his swing. The results were not immediate after his arrival in Memphis, but his production has improved considerably since late July.
Since July 21, Gorman has hit eight home runs and posted a .672 slugging percentage. His strikeout rate has also shown a modest improvement.
The Cardinals still have a long-term vacancy at third base, making Gorman’s situation particularly significant. The organization has hoped for years that he could eventually become the answer at the position.
If Gorman receives another opportunity in St. Louis before the season ends, he could be facing one of the most important stretches of his career. Continued improvement could revive his standing, while another disappointing showing might force the Cardinals to move in a different direction.
Blaze Jordan
Blaze Jordan has received an extended opportunity at third base since Gorman was sent to the Minors. Although his overall offensive numbers have not been spectacular, Jordan has provided enough positives to keep himself in the conversation.
Entering Tuesday, Jordan had a .279 on-base percentage and .651 OPS, with only one home run in 147 plate appearances. Those numbers clearly leave room for improvement.
However, there are encouraging signs. Jordan’s defensive performance has been considerably stronger than some expectations, and he entered August with excellent offensive momentum. During his first seven games of the month, he hit .400.
Perhaps equally important is the confidence shown in him by president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who acquired Jordan from Boston and appears to have a strong belief in his potential.
There is, however, one major concern: Jordan has struggled against right-handed pitching, recording only a .565 OPS in those matchups. That weakness could eventually result in a platoon arrangement involving Jordan and Gorman if both players are in St. Louis during September.
Still, if Jordan can maintain his August surge and continue developing defensively, he could put himself in position to enter 2027 as the Cardinals’ Opening Day third baseman.
A Defining Stretch for St. Louis
The Cardinals’ remaining schedule is about more than simply determining whether they can reach the postseason. It is also an extended evaluation period for players competing for long-term roles.
Dobbins needs to prove that he can remain in the starting rotation. Liberatore must rediscover the form that once made the organization believe in him. Crooks needs to demonstrate that he can handle Major League pitching before another catching prospect arrives. Gorman must show that his recent Triple-A surge is real, while Jordan has an opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate option at third base.
For all five players, the stakes are high. The Cardinals are clearly focused on building their next competitive roster, and the performances delivered during these final weeks could have a major influence on who gets to be part of that future.
