The St. Louis Cardinals are dealing with a tricky decision regarding their starting rotation as the 2026 MLB season gets underway.
With six pitchers competing for five spots, the team ultimately chose Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy, Dustin May, and Andre Pallante, sending Richard Fitts to the minors. So far, Liberatore, McGreevy, and Pallante have performed well, while Leahy and May have struggled.
Meanwhile, Hunter Dobbins has started his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis, pitching five innings, striking out three, and allowing three earned runs in his first outing on March 31. His ability to handle five innings right away is encouraging and suggests he isn’t far behind despite missing big league spring training.
Dobbins, whose rookie season with the Boston Red Sox in 2025 was cut short by an ACL tear, posted a 4.13 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts) before the injury. If he can approach that level of performance in 2026, he could contend for a spot in the back of the Cardinals’ rotation.
The 30-day clock on his rehab assignment means the team must soon decide whether to bring him back to the majors or officially send him to Triple-A. Injuries or other changes could alter that plan. The Cardinals now enjoy more pitching depth in the minors than they have in recent years, giving them flexibility to cover injuries or trades while considering rotation options.
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